The Sikkim Tourism department has highlighted a trend of tourists favouring homestays and smaller rural accommodations over traditional hotels in Gangtok, addressing concerns about a perceived decline in visitor numbers to the Himalayan State.
Despite data from Gangtok hotels indicating a drop in tourist footfall this year compared to previous years, a senior tourism official countered these claims. “During the first quarter of 2024, as many as 2.94 lakh tourists visited Sikkim. It’s a misconception to think that tourists must visit Gangtok hotels first before exploring other parts of the State like Geysing and Namchi,” the official explained.
The official pointed out that improved transportation options have enabled tourists to directly access popular destinations like Yumthang Valley and other areas via various entry points such as Melli, Rangpo, Ramman, and Reshi, bypassing Gangtok altogether.
In discussions with elected rural representatives in areas like Zuluk, it was noted that homestays are thriving. “Homestays are attracting big crowds and doing evergreen business,” the official remarked. These homestays typically charge around ₹1,000 per head for food and accommodation, providing a profitable and sustainable income for local owners.
However, some tourism stakeholders have expressed skepticism about the government’s assertion that tourism has merely shifted from hotels to homestays. A hotelier with properties in both Sikkim and Darjeeling stated, “While homestays have become popular, the decline in Gangtok hotel business cannot be solely attributed to this. Darjeeling’s hotels are performing well despite the presence of many homestays, which isn’t the case in Sikkim.”
Currently, there are approximately 1,700 registered homestays in both the Darjeeling hills and Sikkim, with many more operating without registration.
Stakeholders have also pointed out additional factors affecting tourism in Sikkim, such as the poor condition of the NH10 highway, its frequent closures, the inaccessibility of key tourist spots like Gurudongmar in north Sikkim, and high cab fares.
Recently, the Union Tourism Ministry raised concerns with the Sikkim Tourism and Civil Aviation Department about complaints from tourists regarding “exploitative” cab and permit rates and a lack of visitor amenities. In response, the Sikkim Government formed a high-level panel to address these issues.
Recently, the Sikkim Tourism department issued an order capping fares for luxury cabs taking tourists to Nathula, Tsomgo, and Baba Mandir from Gangtok at ₹7,000 and normal vehicles at ₹6,500, both inclusive of permit fees.
