This destination in Northeast India has witnessed record-breaking tourist arrivals in

Parts of Northeast India have been embroiled in violence for a while now, with the situation escalating in May 2023 following ethnic violence in the state of Manipur. Despite instability in the scenic region, the state of Sikkim has witnessed record footfalls, thanks to the culture, weather and scenic locales of the hilly areas. In the first quarter of 2024, Sikkim experienced an unprecedented surge in tourist arrivals, according to official data from the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department.

Until March 31, 2024, Sikkim welcomed a staggering 2,90,401 tourists, including 2,56,537 domestic visitors and 30,864 foreigners. This surge in arrivals has been attributed to the recovery made in Sikkim’s hospitality sector, which suffered greatly due to the devastating flash floods in October 2023.

The calamity claimed dozens of 40 lives, leading to a significant decline in tourist arrivals. However, early trends emerging in 2024 suggest that Sikkim would regain its status as a premier tourist destination, reports suggest.

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However, the economic impact of tourism on the state is significant, with the industry estimated to have generated over Rs 500 crore in revenue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sikkim Tourism Department website. As tourist numbers continue to rise, this figure is expected to witness a sizeable increase, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.

There are 1,725 travel agencies catering to tourists looking to visit the state, with a total of 38,208 beds to accommodate the influx of travellers.

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According to Tourism Sikkim data, ther has been a consistent upward trend in tourist arrivals over the past decade. Starting from 576,749 visitors in 2013, the numbers surged to a peak of 1,625,573 in 2023. With a promising start in 2024, projections indicate a potential milestone of 1.2 million tourists by year-end if the current growth rate persists.

(With inputs from agencies)