Sikkim welcome you with the same courtesy that is shown to all guests in the Indian tradition and which is encapsulated in the Sanskrit maxim: Atithi Devo Bhava — When a guest comes, think that a god has come.
RANGPO, May 14: Athiti Dewa Bhava. Guests are our Gods. This age-old Indian adage sums up the high regard Indian culture has for guests.
For a small State like Sikkim, which has been vigorously promoted as the ecotourism destination of the world, and the tourism sector is the main revenue earner, this adage should have been the main mantra.
However, despite the huge success the State has had as a tourist destination, we are still miles to go before we can truly claim the title as the most tourist-friendly State of the country. Because, we are still lacking in basic etiquettes that is required by all stakeholders in the tourism industry, right from the tour operators to hoteliers to drivers and the local public in general.
The huge rush of tourists to Sikkim during the peak seasons of April-May and October-November is good news for all. It sets the cash registers ringing and adds to the State exchequer.
But this inflow of tourists has also revealed that we still do not have required infrastructure to handle this rush. Each day, the problems faced by tourists are increasing and more than often, they leave with not so happy memories.
The little town of Rangpo is the main entry point to Sikkim. Visitors get the first glimpse of Sikkim at the Rangpo check-post. The Rangpo Bazaar is also one of the main stoppages for in-bound and out-bound vehicles. The bustling Bazaar’s main sources of income are the passengers, a bulk of which consists of tourists. And it is here at Rangpo that most visitors find themselves at the receiving end at the hands of callous drivers and infrastructural lapses.
Take the foreign visitor. A foreigner entering Sikkim is required to produce a special permit which is checked at the Rangpo Check Post. He has to enter his name, address and has to deposit a photocopy of his passport, Visa at the Tourist Center located at the Check Post. But a photocopy machine is not available at this Centre. For a simple task, he has to walk to the Bazaar, while the vehicle waits. Once in the Bazaar, more than often, he faces language barrier and is often provided with poor service. Sometimes, he is unnecessarily harassed by local roadside loafers.
Even domestic tourists face such unpleasant situations here. Most of the domestic tourists complain that often, drivers of their vehicle misbehave with them or charge them exorbitant fares. In many cases, complaints of drivers using foul language with the tourists have come in. In a recent incident, a group of tourists from West Bengal told this reporter that the driver of their vehicle started using foul language which was targeted at them. The driver was making fun of them and abusing them verbally. He could have gone scot-free had not one of the tourists understood Nepali and objected. This led to an altercation between the driver and the tourists at Rangpo, during which the driver got hold of a few of local goons and threatened the tourists with dire consequences.
The tourists however, did not make a formal complain to the Police fearing further harassment.
These incidences could not have taken place had there been a Tourist Police booth in this border town. The newly-constructed Police Check Post here ahs a booth for the tourist Police but is laying vacant till now. There is an urgent need for tourist policing if we are to truly treat our guests like Gods.
For a small State like Sikkim, which has been vigorously promoted as the ecotourism destination of the world, and the tourism sector is the main revenue earner, this adage should have been the main mantra.
However, despite the huge success the State has had as a tourist destination, we are still miles to go before we can truly claim the title as the most tourist-friendly State of the country. Because, we are still lacking in basic etiquettes that is required by all stakeholders in the tourism industry, right from the tour operators to hoteliers to drivers and the local public in general.
The huge rush of tourists to Sikkim during the peak seasons of April-May and October-November is good news for all. It sets the cash registers ringing and adds to the State exchequer.
But this inflow of tourists has also revealed that we still do not have required infrastructure to handle this rush. Each day, the problems faced by tourists are increasing and more than often, they leave with not so happy memories.
The little town of Rangpo is the main entry point to Sikkim. Visitors get the first glimpse of Sikkim at the Rangpo check-post. The Rangpo Bazaar is also one of the main stoppages for in-bound and out-bound vehicles. The bustling Bazaar’s main sources of income are the passengers, a bulk of which consists of tourists. And it is here at Rangpo that most visitors find themselves at the receiving end at the hands of callous drivers and infrastructural lapses.
Take the foreign visitor. A foreigner entering Sikkim is required to produce a special permit which is checked at the Rangpo Check Post. He has to enter his name, address and has to deposit a photocopy of his passport, Visa at the Tourist Center located at the Check Post. But a photocopy machine is not available at this Centre. For a simple task, he has to walk to the Bazaar, while the vehicle waits. Once in the Bazaar, more than often, he faces language barrier and is often provided with poor service. Sometimes, he is unnecessarily harassed by local roadside loafers.
Even domestic tourists face such unpleasant situations here. Most of the domestic tourists complain that often, drivers of their vehicle misbehave with them or charge them exorbitant fares. In many cases, complaints of drivers using foul language with the tourists have come in. In a recent incident, a group of tourists from West Bengal told this reporter that the driver of their vehicle started using foul language which was targeted at them. The driver was making fun of them and abusing them verbally. He could have gone scot-free had not one of the tourists understood Nepali and objected. This led to an altercation between the driver and the tourists at Rangpo, during which the driver got hold of a few of local goons and threatened the tourists with dire consequences.
The tourists however, did not make a formal complain to the Police fearing further harassment.
These incidences could not have taken place had there been a Tourist Police booth in this border town. The newly-constructed Police Check Post here ahs a booth for the tourist Police but is laying vacant till now. There is an urgent need for tourist policing if we are to truly treat our guests like Gods.
