This year, Sikkim has encouraged tourist footfall to make up for the financial hit the state and…
This year, Sikkim has encouraged tourist footfall to make up for the financial hit the state and its stakeholders took last year. The two-month lockdown during the peak season in 2020 caused an estimated loss of Rs 500-700 crore. Nearly a quarter of the state's population is dependent on tourism (including the families of those employed in tourism-related activities), which generates annual revenues of about Rs 4,000-5,000 crore. With all restrictions lifted, tourism is expected to see further growth, providing the much needed fillip to stakeholders who bore the brunt of the pandemic. [Report & Photos by Pappu Mallick]