N-E states favour relaxing permits for foreign tourists
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, out of bounds for foreign tourist without a special permit, have supported a move by the Centre to relax the system to boost tourism in the region.
“It’s not possible to completely waive the present system of granting permits. However, to promote tourism in the state, I am in favour of not only relaxing the terms of the permit but also extending its scope,” Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu told Hindustan Times.
SC Gupta, Sikkim’s additional chief secretary and home secretary, echoed the view.
“There is no doubt that easing of the restrictions will promote tourism and benefit the state. However, since it’s a sensitive matter, deliberations among all stakeholders to define the terms and condition of such a relaxation is required,” Gupta said.
Both the state governments said they will convey the views in this regard to the Centre in the coming few days.
Foreign tourists need to obtain Protected Area Permit and Restricted Area Permit to visit Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim for security reasons. Indian tourists need an Inner Land Permit.
The Union ministry of tourism recently moved a proposal to the home ministry to find out ways to open the northeast states to promote their culture and tourism. The home ministry consulted the defence ministry as both Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are border states. While Arunachal Pradesh shares boundary with China and Bhutan, Sikkim does with China, Bhutan, and Nepal.
On May 17, officials from the three ministries and the Intelligence Bureau met under the chairmanship of the special secretary of the department of border management and agreed to open these areas for tourists.
Union tourism minister KJ Alphons confirmed it soon after the meeting, and told HT that a formal announcement would come only after consultation with the state governments involved.
Exploring the various possibilities, Khandu says that one of the suggestions would be to either extend the days for renewal of the permit or reduce the permit fee.
“Another relaxation would be to allow foreign tourists to visit those areas which they can’t access even after obtaining tour permits. For instance, Ki Gompa in Tawang district are great tourist destinations but are off limit. We can bring them into the ambit of the permit,” the CM said.
Gupta said the state government had itself written to the Centre to relax permit conditions.
“Now, we have received a proposal from the Centre to completely remove the permit conditions in certain areas. We are looking at this and yet to formulate our views. We are hoping we would be able to crystalise our views by the first week of June.”
Pronab Sarkar, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators, said any move to relax or extend the scope of the permit will be a boon for the tourism sector.
The protected areas currently include whole of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, besides parts of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. Some parts of Sikkim fall under the protected area regime while others under the restricted area.
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