Sikkim to welcome tourists from today, COVID negative certificate no longer necessary

Sikkim closed its borders since a very long time amid the Coronavirus pandemic and now finally the state has opened its doors for tourists from October 10.

According to reports, the state government has permitted hotels, homestays and all tourism related services to resume their operations. The Sikkim border with West Bengal will also be reopened without unrestricted travel from October 1, 2020.

Sikkim has further issued SOPs for hotels and the tourism sector in the upcoming days. On the other hand, Inner Line Permits for international tourists with valid visas would be granted from October 10.

Sikkim state government may keep the odd-even rule for public vehicles in place even after October 1.

Sikkim has implemented the road rationing rule, by limiting the number of cars as per the last digit of their registration number, to reduce vehicular traffic in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, news has it that Gangtok will be put under total lockdown from September 21 to 27 to control the rising COVID-19 infections.

After deciding to reopen the state to tourists, the Government of Sikkim is going to issue 'travel cards' for visitors. Earlier, it was compulsory to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate to enter the state, but it now been done away with. It has now been made 'optional' in the wake of the allowance of inter-state movement (from October 1).

Also Read: Government of Sikkim decides no winter vacation except for high altitude schools

The travel card can be obtained from Sikkim Tourism’s web portal sikkimtourism.gov.in.

Travel Cards are compulsory for entry into Sikkim from Rangpo or Melli check post. A single card will be issued per group and there’s no limit on how many people would be in the group.

“Around 75 cards have been generated till October 7, these cards do not mean that 75 tourists are coming but rather over 150 tourists coming.
One card will suffice for a family or a group.” State Tourism Department.

Further, the showing of COVID negative certificates in Rangpo and Melli Checkpost seemed to be a tedious task even for the authorities there.

We are requesting panchayats to do the same, as tourism stakeholders in Sikkim have been out of business throughout the year with zero income”.

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