The State team of MLAs and Officers that visited Sikkim from 11 to 15 June, 2018 to study the initiatives taken by Government of Sikkim in the filed of tourism, orgnic farming, sanitation and solid waste management today submitted its report to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.The members of the Team included MLAs Rakesh Pathania, Rakesh Jamwal, Ravinder Kumar, Ashish Butail, Vikramaditya Singh and Hoshiyar Singh besides Director Rural Development Rakesh Kanwar, Chief Engineer Ashok Chauhan, Chief Architect PWD N.K. Negi and Deputy Director, Tourism Pankaj Sharma.The members of the team gave a detailed power point presentation detailing various initiatives taken by the Government of Sikkim in the field of tourism, organic farming and sanitation. They apprised the Chief Minister regarding tourism economy of Sikkim and also informed that Sikkim was the first State in the country which has been declared as 'Organic State'.The Sikkim Government is promoting rural village, eco-friendly and religious tourism.The members suggested that Himachal Pradesh can learn from Sikkim to promote tourism with least impact on environment by participation of local people.
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the team and said that State would also endeavour to promote religious, adventure, and eco-tourism in the State. He said that over two crore tourists visits the State every year and the government would make efforts to provide best facilities to the tourists. He said that special thrust would be made on exploring lesser known tourist places.He said the government would also contemplate to provide training to taxi drivers and operators to act as tourism ambassador of the State. The tourist circuits such as Buddhist circuit, religious circuit, trek circuits etc. would also be developed in the State. He said that sound infrastructure would be developed in tourist places and heli taxi service provided to high end tourists.Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh would be aggressively marketed as a tourist destination at national and international levels. He said new snow points such as Chanshal, Saach Pass, Jalori Pass, Shrikhand and Dhauladhar etc. would be identified and developed so that tourists could be roped in to visit these places.He said that apart from improving road connectivity, efforts would be made to construct maximum ropeways by encouraging private participation in this sector.MPP and Power Minister Anil Sharma, Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, Additional Chief Secretaries Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Manisha Nanda, and Ram Subhag Singh, Principal Secretaries R.D. Dhiman and Onkar Sharma, Secretary, LAC Dr. Purnima Chauhan were also present on the occasion among others.