Tuesday, September 8, 2020
With tourist destinations in North Bengal and Sikkim gradually restarting their operations, travel enthusiasts in the state are happy about this development.
The hotels and restaurants in Darjeeling and Kalimpong are opening up from Tuesday while Sikkim is thinking about opening its doors for tourists from October. The Dooars forest may also open up after September 15.
Hotels and restaurants outside the containment zones can reopen maintaining social distancing and other necessary protocols adhering to health and hygiene related with COVID-19 preventive measures.
Sikkim tourism department plans to restart the tourism sector from October, and it has already come up with a draft proposal termed ‘Reopening of State Tourism’ that includes certain preconditions for tourism.
“The State cannot afford to abrogate its tourism industry for long. The resumption of tourism is likely to increase the probability of transmission of the disease. Still, it becomes imperative for us to ensure that the highest standards of health safety measures are put in place before we open the doors for tourism”, says the draft.
Around 15 percent of the state’s population is dependent on tourism, and has been severely affected due to the lockdown.
The national parks located in Dooars and its adjoining areas like Gorumara, Jaldapara, Buxa and Neora Valley that were shut down since March 17 amidst the COVID-19 situation might reopen after September 15.
Rajib Banerjee, the state Forest minister said, “I have asked the forest department officials as well as other stakeholders to examine the pros and cons and accordingly prepare a standard operating procedure to be followed for tourism activities. It will be reviewed by the end of this week before taking a final decision.”
Tags: tourist destinations
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