Sikkim bags Award of Excellence at TTF Mumbai for rural, sustainable tourism

Gangtok, Sikkim Tourism has bagged the Award of Excellence for promoting rural and sustainable tourism at the Travel & Tourism Fair in Mumbai, officials said on Sunday.

Sikkim government's Tourism and Civil Aviation department in a statement, said the award recognised the state's "continued commitment to responsible, community-based and sustainable tourism development".

Sikkim participated as a partner state at TTF Mumbai under the Sikkim INSPIRES initiative from August 20 to 22, showcasing its rural tourism initiatives, nature-based products, cultural experiences, destinations and hospitality offerings to the Mumbai and wider national tourism market.

The Sikkim pavilion drew strong footfall during the three-day fair, with travel trade representatives, tourism professionals and visitors showing particular interest on the second day. Tourism stakeholders used the platform to promote destinations, accommodation facilities and travel experiences across the state.

According to the statement, the response from the Mumbai market was "particularly encouraging", with visitors and business representatives expressing keen interest in travelling to Sikkim. Several tour packages were also reportedly booked during interactions at the pavilion.

The department said the response pointed to significant potential for increasing tourist arrivals from Mumbai, Maharashtra and other parts of the country.

The event also provided Sikkim's tourism fraternity an opportunity to forge new business contacts and strengthen links with travel agencies, tour operators and tourism partners from Maharashtra and other states.

More than 15 tourism stakeholders participated in the event, including representatives of prominent tourism stakeholder associations, Village Tourism Development Committee members from Rabong and Pakyong, Buddha Park in Ravangla, hotel owners and travel agencies.

The department said the award further strengthened Sikkim's position as a destination seeking to balance tourism growth with environmental conservation, community participation and sustainable livelihoods.

The official statement said the recognition "reinforces Sikkim's distinctive position as a destination committed to balancing tourism growth with environmental conservation, local community participation and sustainable livelihoods."

Tourism stakeholders also thanked Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Tshering T Bhutia for providing the platform to showcase Sikkim at the national tourism forum.

The department said the successful participation would help strengthen Sikkim's tourism presence in Maharashtra, expand market linkages and create new business opportunities for tourism stakeholders across the state.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.