Tuesday, Mar 18, 2025 09:45 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Mar 17, 2025 16:42 [IST]
GYALSHING, (IPR):Maneybung-Dentam MLA
Sudesh Kumar Subba, who is also an advisor to State Tourism department,today highlighted
the significance of the upcoming Sikkim Rural Tourism Meet 2025 in promoting
rural tourism.
The
event, scheduled to take placeat Gumpa Dara, Uttarey from
March 22 to 24, is being organized under the Sikkim INSPIRES (Integrated
Service Provision and Innovation for Reviving Economies) scheme, which aims to
boost economic inclusion through rural tourism.
Addressing
a press conference, Subbainformed that Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang will attended
the event on March 23 as the chief guest. The meet will witness participation
from nationally and internationally recognised travel and tourism agencies,
including representatives from Bhutan and Nepal. Additionally, rural tourism
development societies from 32 constituencies, homestay operators and other
stakeholders will have the opportunity to engage directly with these agencies,
facilitating business growth and strengthening the rural tourism sector in
Sikkim.
To
enhance promotional outreach, the area MLA encouraged homestay operators to
hand over brochures and pamphlets for distribution among the attending
agencies. He also announced the introduction of adventure tourism activities at
the event, including paragliding (commencing on March 21), hot air balloon
rides, mountain biking (Uttarey to Tenzing-Hillary Memorial
Park/Chewabhanjyang) and bungee jumping at Singshore Bridge. These activities
will be conducted under expert supervision, with open invitations for trainees
and participants.
In
an effort to promote tourism education, students pursuing tourism-related
courses in schools and colleges have also been invited to attend and gain
insights from the event. Additionally, informative hoardings showcasing the
region’s rich biodiversity, including animals, butterflies, birds, lakes, and
other tourist attractions, will be displayed throughout the venue.
Through
this platform, the MLA extended an invitation to all rural tourism
stakeholders, people of the State and tourists worldwide to participate in the
three-day meet-cum-convention at Utteray and take advantage of the services
provided and experience the traditions, culture and ethnicity of the region and
the state.
During
the press conference, Tourism principal chief engineer Neeraj Pradhan provided
an overview of the event, emphasizing its focus on strengthening rural tourism
businesses and homestay operations. He shared that over 50 top travel agencies have
been invited along with India Today, TV18 and Jio Hotstar to ensure wide
publicity and media coverage.
The
event will also feature a B2B convention, facilitating one-on-one business
interactions and marketing strategy discussions for rural tourism
entrepreneurs. He encouraged homestay operators and stakeholders to actively
participate, highlighting the immense opportunities the event presents for their
growth.
The
official logo for Sikkim Rural Tourism Meet 2025 was unveiled during the event.
Following
the press conference, a detailed field inspection was conducted, with
discussions focusing on infrastructural preparedness, logistical arrangements,
stakeholder coordination and promotional strategies to showcase the tourism
potential of the region.
The
Sikkim Rural Tourism Meet 2025 aims to serve as a milestone event in
strengthening the rural tourism sector, bringing together stakeholders from
across the region and beyond to promote Sikkim as a premier rural tourism
destination.