Monday, Apr 27, 2026 10:45 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Apr 27, 2026 05:06 [IST]
An advisory from the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation has ‘requested’ all visitors and tourists who are planning to leave Gangtok on the 28th, to get up and get going before 6 AM: “those who are scheduled to depart … are requested to leave the station by 6 AM on that day, positively”. Why? Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be here, and the 28th marks the end of his two-day visit to mark the end of Sikkim’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
I noticed something on my brief visit to Gangtok earlier this month. The streets weren’t exactly bustling with tourists.
“Look around you,” said a vocal local, gesturing around the MG Marg. “Not a single foreign tourist! And April is supposed to be peak season!”
I was back in Sikkim after two decades, and I do remember it was common to see a few Europeans, a couple of Nigerians, and an American or two sauntering about our main streets in those days.
The hospitality sector in Sikkim is taking a beating.
Yet, in January this year, Sikkim was conferred the “Most Tourist Friendly State of India” Award at Bengal Travel Mart 2026. We had more than 17 lakh tourist arrivals in 2025, which was over 82,000 compared to 2024. However, official data says that foreign tourist numbers were down sharply to 71,710, which was 13,000 less than the previous year.
Based on available travel booking data and listing sites, there are well over 500 accommodation options in Gangtok ranging from luxury resorts and heritage homes to budget-friendly guesthouses. While an exact, real-time total is hard to pin down, popular booking platforms often list well over 500-1000 properties!
“Unfortunately, a great many of these places are floundering. This year, we have not seen any significant footfall. Maybe it’s an indication that the middle class has less disposable income. The international instability brought on by Donald Trump’s war has had its impact, no doubt. Add to that the nationwide petrol and gas scare that has had an impact not only on vehicular movement, but also on the prices of everyday items,” a charming lady at a local café at MG Marg said. ‘Bars and restaurants on MG Marg have significantly less footfalls this season, compared to last year.”
The man on the street has a wealth of insight. “The high paying foreign tourists bring in revenue for the big nose hotels. The middle-class Indian tourists, who spend their hard-earned money in the smaller hotels and eating places, are more valuable,” Ashish Gurung, a tourist cab driver explained. “No doubt they are noisy, and they tend to be untidy and a bit dirty, but they put money in the pockets of those who sweat and toil.”
But hope isn’t lost. Adventure Tourism is one of the main attractions of our Mountain home. The Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism (IHCAE) has a proposal for an annual adventure festival under the Sikkim INSPIRES Annual Work Plan 2026–27!
The Tourism and Aviation Department is doing its bit in Yuksum, where a ‘ Sensitization-cum-Orientation Training Programme on High Altitude Sickness’ for registered guides and trekking cooks was held.The Sashastra Seema Bal, 72nd Battalion, Yuksam chipped in with a session onthe usage of the High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) bag, one-man HAPO chamber, portable oxygen cylinders and resuscitation kits, providing practical exposure to life-saving techniques.
Sikkim aims to turn eco-tourism into a driver of livelihood generation, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation, so says Joint Director Tshering Donka Bhutia. What’s the plan? Develop eco-adventure and nature learning centres, trekking trails, eco-friendly infrastructure, and build facilities at various locations across the State.
Ms Bhumika Rai, DFO of Khangchendzonga National Park believes that local communities can play a crucial role through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs),in developing key trekking locations such as Sachen, Tshoka, Bakhim, Phedang, Dzongri, Thangshing, and Lamuney.
Meanwhile, news comes in from Gyalshing, where women Homestay operators are doing a 15-day training programmein collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow.Soft skill upgradation and entrepreneurship developmentwas on the menu. The ladies were also oriented towards digital marketing and livelihood activities closely linked with tourism.
As the Golden Year festivities wind down, it is hoped that in the coming months, the Government will turn its attention to strategies that will bring in more revenue and income generation opportunities to this Himalayan Heaven.
