The government of Sikkim has instituted a new policy that requires all visitors, including Indians, to pay an admission charge of Rs. 50. There is debate on the impact on regional tourism of the action taken before to the busiest spring travel season. Mahesh Rai, a spokesman for the CAP party, questioned the legitimacy of charging Indian residents a charge to enter their own nation during a press conference, criticizing the program.
Drawing parallels to Bhutan’s Sustainable Development Fund, which only benefits foreign visitors, he emphasized what he sees as Sikkim’s unjust system. Only foreign tourists are charged the same. Indian citizens will be the ones from whom we gather. The CAP also brought attention to the various costs that travelers must pay to enter tourist destinations and the cost of restricted area licenses. They also voiced concerns about the state’s infrastructure, pointing up problems with road connectivity and inadequate tourist amenities.
