HGTI’s letter to Tourism Minister Bhim Dhungel

HGTI PR | 10 Jan 2011

Request to include Sikkim festivals with Tourism aspirations & growth

At the outset, we offer Happy New Year Greetings to your goodself. However, we are sorry to highlight the following derelictions in planning process of Sikkim so far the Tourism development economic growth is concerned.
That the Govt. of Sikkim has been merely highlighting the over growth of tourist inflow in Sikkim again and again but it fails to analyze the real benefit being accrue to the people of Sikkim. Therefore highlighting in media the continuous over growth of tourist in Sikkim without any examination and analysis of real economic benefit percolating to the real Sikkimese entrepreneur and trained manpower is simply an exhibition of utopain concept of development in Tourism and general development in Sikkim. There are several lacuna in tourism development context in Sikkim which produces hindrances of the real Tourism economic benefits benefitting and percolating to the poor down trodden masses.

That the real glaring example at this moment of debarring economic benefit to our own genuine Sikkimese people is shifting Mela exhibition venue from Jorthang River belt to Jorthang Main Bazar. It seems the Jorthang Mela Committee failed to realize that Mela is meant mainly for incoming Tourists in the present context of development policy of Govt. assimilating festivals and heritage assembly with the Tourists attractions.

That the Jorethang Mela Committee failed to realize the real history of Mela started during the Late Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly Mr. Sonam Tsering Bhutia of Kazi Road. Since that time, till last year the Mela was being organized at River belt, but this year the decision of Mela Committee debarring the venue at scenic river belt of Rangit river at Jorethang simply exhibits parochial attitude of the organizing Committee of the present Mela exhibition. This Mela is the embodiment of expressions of Sikkimiese culture and ethos and the Jorethang River belt is the befitting venue of exhibiting our art and culture to the Tourists.

That one can hardly imagine Jorethang Mela without incorporating River belt area. The Mela engulfs spiritual exhibitions also which is simply not possible if the Mela is confined in Jorethang Bazar only.  That in view of the above prima facia evidence appearing in Newspaper debarring the Mela exhibitions display from River belt area, the HGTI has resolved and approaching your goodself to request the Govt. to immediately intervene about this decision.

That we (HGTI) have noticed that this Mela has not incorporated several Tourists interests sports this time which is deplorable and lacks of adequate planning in the Govt. this need to be rectified immediately and the River belt should be utilized for Mela exhibition without fail and further delay as there is no time left.

The HGTI meeting also discussed the sewerage nuisance created at Rangpo and questioned to the Govt. as to why proper drinking water system and toilets are not being constructed at Rangpo which is the welcoming entrance of Tourists in Sikkim. The incident which took place at Rangpo was simply not viewed as Tourists nuisance by the persons who were busy in promoting the mistake of the Govt. The HGTI simply submits to your goodself to make the people of Rangpo conscious about Tourists welfare and interest and above all assuring grand welcome not by contaminated water and polluted environment. It is the people who have been continuously asking better source of drinking water and toilet provisions at Rangpo and entire Central Pandam area but the Govt. failed to realize that is part from the people need. It is the fundamental need of the Tourists which might malign the name of Sikkim in international arena if hygienic condition are not set alright in Rangpo or for that matter all over Sikkim.

That we request the Govt. and your goodself to intervene in the mismanagement of water supply and sewerage system in the towns of Sikkim so that no such precedence is repeated. That the Tourism Deptt. may kindly highlight statistics as to how many Tourists it has been able to cater to the Home stay units all over Sikkim or merely depending on the TASS and the activities of other agents like HGTI & Yak & Yeti Travels. Your goodself may form a committee to see the difficulties of Home stay unit for supply and availability of drinking water is concerned vis a-vis the construction of good toilets may eventually be examined through, we have obtained Nirmal Gram Puruskar but our targets should not only be puruskar but real benefits to the people and above all to the Tourists.

That the HGTI has also decided to invite your kind attention to the English education class for Tourism development purpose. The HGTI would like to assert to your honour that Tourism colloquial languages are different from the usual English vernacular text. The English language with Tourism ascent and vocabulary could be learnt from TASS authorities or the committee of Hotel and Restaurant Association. The tourism subject matter is completely a technical one and its training
or tourism development oriented exercise should be handled by experts in tourism development. This has got reference of English class being conducted at Central Pendam without involving tourism entrepreneurs or officials. This will not bring actual management skill to deal with tourists. The real intention should have been an organization of English language workshop with any tourists agency for achieving better results.

That the HGTI has also deliberated upon the timely issue of advertisement in National media about the snowfall in Lachung,Yumthang and Nathula ,Tsomgu. The HGTI Chairman has had already requested Shri.TT Dorji, IAS, Chief  secretary,Govt. of Sikkim to take serious care about the timely issue of advertisement about the various aspects and attractions centers highlighting fresh growth and development in Sikkim. We have achieved such infrastructural creation of assimilation but we are failing to address and exhibit to the world the real bright brilliance of tourism spectrum in Sikkim. Why can’t we handle media? It is very surprising Sir, when always we really miss the beautiful snowfall PRESS international coverage in Sikkim which lasts till the end of May every year. This particular sentence with particular meaning and contention is very important for publicity aspects, please.

We the HGTI hope your goodself and HCM would take the suggestion positively please.

That the HGTI has also decided to thank the police Deptt., SP, Mr. M.S Tuli for helping nab an IAS imposter and his wife who had visited Nathula and inner line permit area of Sikkim. We request your good self to activate tourist police service with cyber crime cell incorporated in their office so that such imposter do not cause danger to National Security any more please.
Thank you.