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Sikkim Picks Health Over Tourism, Imposes Curbs to Control Coronavirus Spread

Sikkim Picks Health Over Tourism, Imposes Curbs to Control Coronavirus Spread

New Delhi: In light of increasing cases of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in India, the Sikkim government has banned the entry of foreign tourists into the state as well as has put the issuance of passes on hold to domestic visitors to visit the Nathu La pass bordering China.

Tourism is Sikkim’s primary source of revenue, and the tourism season begins in April. International bookings are typically made at least three months in advance.

However, setting aside the fear of the local tourism industry about mass cancellations and subsequently a huge loss to its annual earnings due to health reasons, the state’s home department issued a notification on March 5 announcing that it would suspend issuing inner line permits to tourists from foreign countries, including those from Bhutan.

It has also resolved to seal the state’s border with China at Nathu La, a traditional trading point between the neighbouring areas’ residents.

According to Sikkim Express, state home secretary S.C. Gupta chaired a meeting with top government officials at Tashiling Secretariat on March 5, where they decided to direct the state tourism department to monitor “maintenance of registers by owners of hotels, homestays and lodge for travellers of both Indian and foreign nationals with their contact details for surveillance purpose.”

The newspaper also reported, “People in the state with recent travel history to China or other affected country are being traced, tracked and kept under observation. State and district rapid response teams and infectious disease managing committees have also been formed and set up in place while strengthening IEC/BCC activities at district level.”

The education department has also been advised to conduct awareness programmes on the virus in schools even as the state health department has readied isolation wards at the STNM Hospital in Sochaygang area.

Meanwhile, state governor Ganga Prasad has appealed to the people to avoid celebrating Holi in a crowd and “follow absolute hygiene and precautionary measures while enjoying the festival of colours among friends and family members.”

Keeping in mind the possibility of a huge congregation on March 9 at the Tashiding monastery in West District for the holy water ceremony of Bhum Chu, the administration also issued orders on March 5 asking visitors to wear masks and those with “flu-like conditions” not to attend the celebrations.

The state government’s travel restrictions are likely to affect tourism in neighbouring North Bengal as well since tourists usually cover the Sikkim and Darjeeling circuits together.

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