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| Chamling at Bagdogra on Thursday. (Kundan Yolmo) |
Siliguri, March 1: Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling today said that the state would benefit if Mamata Banerjee’s dream of turning Darjeeling into Switzerland became a reality as tourists visiting the Queen of Hills might take a trip to the Himalayan state as well.
“I would be most happy if (Bengal) chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s dream of turning Darjeeling into Switzerland were to come true. Sikkim would also benefit if Darjeeling is developed because tourists always come to visit the region as a circuit that comprises Darjeeling, the Dooars and Sikkim. If there is an increase in the influx of tourists to Darjeeling... the same tourists would also visit our state,” Chamling told journalists at Bagdogra airport today.
Chamling’s comments came a day after Mamata announced in Darjeeling that a masterplan was being prepared to convert the place into Switzerland.
“We will work on joint ventures (with Bengal) to promote the tourism industry. We can also work on setting (up) industries together. There have not been formal talks on these issues (yet). But I will definitely take up the issues with her (Mamata) when we meet,” he said.
The chief minister was on his way back to Sikkim from Delhi where he had gone to receive three tourism awards that the state has won. Chamling received the “best state”, the Best State-Clean India Campaign and the most innovative and unique tourism project awards from President Pratibha Patil yesterday.
“Our government has been working for the past 18 years to build Sikkim as a prime tourist destination (in the country) and we have started getting recognition at the national level. Sikkim suffered great devastation in the earthquake last year. Despite that we bagged three awards, which is a great achievement. Tourists have already started visiting the state in great numbers,” Chamling said.
He added that the government would encourage more people to get involved in the tourism industry. “It would be better if all the people of Sikkim got engaged in the tourism industry,” Chamling said.(Telegraph)
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