Sikkim’s sustainable tourism fee nets Rs 40,000 so far: CS Rao

The Sikkim government has initiated a Sustainable Development Fund to promote responsible tourism and protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Under the new rule, notified on March 5, 2025, all tourists visiting Sikkim are required to pay an entry fee of Rs 50, which will go toward developing tourism infrastructure and ensuring environmental conservation.

However, the response to the fund has been modest so far. Speaking exclusively to Sikkim Review, C.S. Rao, Additional Chief Secretary of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, explained that the implementation process began right after the rules were notified, but the pace of collection has not yet reached the expected level.

“As of now, we’ve collected a little over Rs 40,000. Around 28 to 30 hotels have started collecting the sustainable tourism development fee. But this is just the beginning,” said Rao.

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The official attributed the slow start to teething issues in the implementation process. A meeting was recently held with members of the Sikkim Hotels and Restaurant Association (SHRA), where concerns were raised about the fee collection process. “They’ve suggested we make it simpler. We’re planning another detailed meeting with them very soon. After that, we’ll move into full-fledged implementation from next week,” Rao added.

He expressed confidence that once the mechanism is streamlined in coordination with stakeholders, the collection will pick up significantly.

The fund is part of a broader push by the state government to promote sustainable practices in the tourism sector. With increasing tourist footfalls each year, authorities in Sikkim have been exploring ways to balance growth with preservation of the state’s rich biodiversity and sensitive ecology.