The Sikkim government has started collecting money under the Tourism Sustainable Development Fund since March 2025 to support sustainable tourism development, including improving tourism infrastructure and facilities like roads and connectivity.The Sikkim government has ordered all tourist accommodation providers in the Himalayan state to contribute to the Tourism Sustainable Development (TSD) fund, an official said.
The Tourism and Civil Aviation department of the state government, in an order, directed all tourist accommodation providers — hotels, resorts, homestays, bed and breakfast establishments, and service apartments — to contribute Rs 50 per tourist to the TSD fund or face punitive action, the official said.
Accommodation providers collect Rs 50 fee from each tourist during check-in and remit it to the government, which monitors the payment through the Atithi Guest Information System.
The Sikkim government started collecting money under the Tourism Sustainable Development Fund in March 2025 to support sustainable tourism development, including improving tourism infrastructure and facilities like roads and connectivity.
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Additional Director, Tourism, Tenzing Gelay Bhutia said that it has come to the notice of the department that a few accommodation units have complied with the provisions of the Sikkim Registration of Tourist Trade (SRTT) Act, 2024, but many have not yet fulfilled this statutory requirement.
“The Tourism and Civil Aviation department directs for immediate compliance, or else, as stipulated as per Rule 83 under the SRTT Rules, 2025, any entity failing to comply with the requirements of the TSD fund shall be liable to a fine of Rs 5,000 for the first month of default, to be followed by Rs 10,000 for the second month, and shall be subject to de-registration in the event of non-compliance for three consecutive months,” he added.
Meanwhile, CM Prem Singh Tamang announced the introduction of the Sikkim Life Skills Curriculum for the students from the next academic session to strengthen the safety framework in the state.
This curriculum will equip the students with essential life-saving skills including CPR, the Heimlich manoeuvre, first aid, snake-bite response and the use of fire extinguishers along with disaster-preparedness training for earthquakes, landslides, floods and fires, he said.
It will also strengthen key soft skills such as communication, teamwork and emotional resilience, Tamang said, adding that he has directed the Education Department, Health Department and SDRF to finalise the curriculum and training modules without delay to ensure timely implementation.
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“I am delighted to announce a major initiative aimed at empowering our students and strengthening the safety framework of Sikkim,” he said while addressing the 3rd State-level Coordination with the senior officials here.
Tamang said that the Life Skills Curriculum will be is fully aligned with the guiding principles of “Health First, Life Foremost and Education Forward.” The CM also addressed the shortage of medical professionals in the state saying that any doctor wishing to pursue a PG course must first complete three years of mandatory service at a Primary Health Centre.
Tamang said he has instructed every department to appoint a senior officer as the designated spokesperson to issue timely press releases, provide accurate public information and counter misinformation. This is not a new post but a strategic responsibility aimed at strengthening communication and ensuring transparency in governance, he added.
