Wednesday, Sep 04, 2024 23:00 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Sep 03, 2024 17:30 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Sikkim Tourism minister Tshering T.
Bhutia participated in the North Eastern and Eastern States/ Union Territories
Tourism Ministers Conference held in Shillong on Monday.
The meeting, chaired by Union Minister
for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat focused on enhancing tourism
collaboration among North-Eastern States and Union Territories. Minister of
State for Tourism & Petroleum Gas Suresh Gopi was also present.
Minister Tshering T. Bhutia was
accompanied by principal secretary C.S Rao, additional director (Hospitality)
N.T Bhutia, deputy director Prashant Pakhrin and media consultant Laxmi Prasad
Sharma from State Tourism department.
At the conference, Bhutia highlighted
the progress and ongoing projects of Sikkim tourism and elaborated on the
significant initiatives taken to promote and develop tourism industry in
Sikkim. He mentioned the various measures adopted for development of tourism
sector in Sikkim.
Bhutia shared that under the leadership
of Chief Minister P.S. Golay the State government is committed to develop
Sikkim into a premier year-round destination, ensuring that the benefits of
tourism are distributed equitably across the society, fostering social and
economic development, and empowering people of the State.
During the day-long conference, Union minister
Shekhawat emphasized developing iconic tourist destinations, improving
connectivity, cleanliness, and promoting investments through public-private
partnerships (PPP). He asked the States to submit proposals under schemes like
Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD to foster tourism growth in spiritual, cultural,
eco-tourism and other sectors.
The conference is the third in a series,
following similar meetings in Chandigarh and Goa, aimed at bolstering the
tourism sector nationwide.
Later, the Sikkim tourism minister
apprised the Union Tourism minister on various issues including road
connectivity and sought special focus on Sikkim for its overall development in
the tourism sector. Speaking to this reporter, Bhutia informed that the Union
minister assured him that Sikkim will be prioritised for the development and
promotion of tourism.
Earlier, C.S. Rao gave a detailed
presentation on the proposed tourist centres of the State, alternate
destinations, marketing and promotion, EODB, investment opportunities, cleanliness
and tourist safety, etc.
The Union Tourism minister appreciated
the initiatives and vision of the Sikkim government and assured required
support in development of alternative destinations in the State of Sikkim.
After the conference, Bhutia, also in
charge of Commerce & Industries department, departed for Delhi where he is
scheduled to attend the upcoming industry ministers’ conference on September 5.
