GANGTOK/ SILIGURI April 2: With its exotic locations, wilderness and mesmerizing natural beauty, Himalayan State Sikkim is going to be one of the largest beneficiaries of central government's ongoing initiative to promote 'adventure tourism.' In order to popularize Indian adventure tourism in global platform, GoI is standardizing different facets of the fast growing tourism sector.
Out of total 25 national projects identified to boost up Adventure Tourism in India under Central Financial Assistance (CFA), Sikkim alone has 7, highest in number amongst Indian states. These include 3 heliports and three destination development projects.
"We are ready to utilize the potential without jeopardizing our rich biodiversity and sensitive ecology," said Sikkim CM Mr. Pawan Chamling. His ministry has already prepared a tourism mission with a target of 10 lakh domestic tourist and 40 thousand foreign tourists per annum by 2015 against existing figures of around 7 lakh and 20 thousand respectively. "The new and first airport of the state is likely to get operational by this year. That will give us additional; advantage in attracting adventure tourists from abroad," he added.
According to ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association), a global network of adventure tourism companies, global adventure tourism business is expected to reach USD 60 billion by 2012.
"Sikkim is already a liked adventure tourism destination in India. With proper infrastructure development, this state can substantially increase its share in the global adventure and off destination tourism business," Mr. S. Roy Secretary, Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators Association (EHTTOA).
With 82% of its 7000 sq km geographic area of under forest cover, 3% under Glaciers and 14% under round the year snow cover, Sikkim is a hotspot for adventure tourism with its hilly terrain ranging from 900 ft to 28,000ft altitude above mean sea level. Beside 26% of the total flowering plant species cache of the whole country, Sikkim hosts 424 identified medicinal plants or near 600 orchids in its flora and 552 birds or 700 species of butterflies in fauna to attract adventure tourists from the whole world.
However, beside taking initiative to actively promote Indian adventure tourism in global platform, Union Tourism Ministry is preparing a multi ministerial coordination body too to take care of many issues based upon the inputs from state Governments. But, though a highly organized and booming trade worldwide, adventure tourism is still at its infancy in India.
As the present status goes, even Honorary Secretary of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India Mr.Akshay Kumar accepted, "We do not have any database of this section of tourism in India. Neither we know the size of this market."
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