SWOT ANALYSISThrough this analysis, we are trying to determine the position of Sikkim as a

tourist destination, what are its assets that makes it a good option for tourists to
visit it, what are the potential weaknesses of the state as a tourist destination,
what are the opportunities for it in future and the potential threats from its
competitors.

STRENGTH
Sikkim has the perfect blend of natural wealth and topography, which
ranges from tropical to temperate to alpine. Sikkims strength has always
been its natural beauty; the mountains and snow, the rivers, lakes and
waterfalls, the verdant forests and biodiversity, fresh air, as well as the
proximity to nature, which keeps tourists coming back for more. The state
is richly endowed with thick forests, flora and fauna, lakes, glaciers and
mountain peaks, which makes it a tourist paradise.

The state has mighty scenic snow-capped peaks including Kanchenjunga,

the worlds third highest peak that attracts a large number of tourists from
across the globe. Mountains are a preferred destination because of the
cool climate they offer. Visiting spectacular mountainous bring with it the
attraction of mountain culture and the distinct ethnicity.
Also, in terms of tourism infrastructure development, Sikkim has been relatively
successful in tapping resources from the centre for construction and
development of tourist wayside amenities, destination and circuit development,
as well as the building of religious monuments.

One of the strengths of Sikkim is that it was among the first movers in the
field of ecotourism. Sikkim pioneered in creating an ecotourism pathway
weaving in principles of strong community participation. Several
ecotourism sites in different parts of the state Kewzing, Yuksam,
Dzonguand Pastanga were some of the first community-based tourism
(CBT) sites that evolved. The core component of these CBT initiatives was
the village homestay, a new tourism product that ensured spread of
tourism benefits to local communities.

WEAKNESS

Connectivity
experience
in grappled
Sikkim
place
bad
among
Poor
their
communication
grievances.
through
connectivity
issue
that
has
is
reflected
also
an
negatively
Sikkims
tourism
for
communication
-Tourists
Owing
to
topography,
its
location
connectivity
and
has
broad
State
challenge
for
the
with
bad
road
feedback
years.
on
their
The problem of connectivity and communication has considerably limited
the potential of Sikkim to become one the major tourist destinations in
India. Owing to its location and topography, connectivity has always
remained a broad challenge for the state of Sikkim. Poor conditions of
roadways have been a problem faced by the state for a long time. It is one
of the primary grievances of tourists coming to this state. Poor mobile
connectivity and lack of proper internet services is also an issue that has
reflected negatively for Sikkims tourism.
Large part of tourism sector in Sikkim is operated by outsiders i.e. people
from other states, be it hotels, transport sector or travel operators. Thus,
there is limited opportunities and benefits for the locals. Capacities of
local people have not been adequately strengthened to address the needs

of the tourism sector. Participation by locals have to be increased if the

tourism has to grow considerably On the other hand, the willingness of
local youths to be involved in this sector and creation of an enabling
environment for them is a challenge that needs to be looked at.
The tourism sector in Sikkim is mostly unregulated with absence of
stringent regulation and standards in the tourism service sector. This has
been detrimental for Sikkims growth as a tourist destination and has also
led to some negative publicity for the state, which needs to be corrected.
Setting of standards in all these aspects and its compliance by all
stakeholders will lead to enhanced visitor experience.
For a state like Sikkim that is situated in a high seismic zone, the issue of
unregulated, unplanned, unsafe infrastructure also becomes highly crucial
to be addressed.
There has been no guiding vision in growth of Sikkkims tourism. There
has been a lack of clarity in the segment of visitors to be targeted and the
tourism products to be developed to attract them. Owing to this, the
tourism pathway in Sikkim has been unplanned with more low paying
mass tourists with high impact thronging the state.

OPPORTUNITY
Promotion of cultural tourism, trekking tourism, ecotourism, wellness
tourism, floritourism and adventure tourism has given fillip to the tourism
trade in the state where a large of number of people are engaged under
different employment opportunities. Creation of tourist complexes,
ecotourism, adventure tourism, ethnic-culture tourism, health farms,
hotels, convention centres, tourist travel services, etc., is various avenues
for investment in the tourism sector.
Cho-Lhamu lake situated in Sikkim is the highest lake in the country and
sixth highest in the world. It is expected that recognition of this lake will
boost tourism in the state.
Sikkim is setting up a fossil park in Mamley (south Sikkim), where rare one
billion-year-old Stromatolite fossils occur. GSI plans to set up a geological
museum in Sikkim, displaying fossils, rock samples, etc., from various
parts of India. This would attract palaeontology enthusiasts across the
world.
With the Government of Indias increased focus on the development of the
North East Region has earmarked tourism as a priority area (Draft National
Tourism Policy 2015). New opportunities are emerging such as the Kailash
Mansarovar pilgrimage through Nathula Pass, which was flagged off in
2015.
There is also a growing demand for new products like village tourism and
homestays, mountain biking, paragliding, bird and butterfly-watching, all
of which can generate a host of new service providers from amongst the
local youth.
Tourism has linkages with a wide range of allied sectors and services that
can provide employment and income to locals. By developing local
capacities for entrepreneurship, and service delivery and a focus on highvalue nature and culture-based products, the state has the capacity to
leverage these opportunities to make tourism a key sector in Sikkims
economy.

According to Mr. A.K. Srivastava, Commissioner-cum-Secretary in Sikkim's

Department of Tourism, steps were being taken to position the State as an
"all-season tourist destination". Besides leisure tourism, the focus now
would also be on village tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism and
conference tourism. The hotels and hospitality industry was being
encouraged to offer discounts to corporates which host business
conferences in different destinations in Sikkim.

THREAT
One of the major threats for Sikkim is emergence of tourist destinations in
adjacent states which are also focussing on aspects like ecotourism. Thus,
there is stiff competition to come in near future and thus, Sikkim has to
market aggressively to capture the segment space.
Another threat is from the existing famous tourist locations in north like
Darjeeling, Kasol, Nainital and even Nepal. These pose a threat to the
Sikkims tourism as they already have an image of great tourist
destinations with positive reviews.
Other threat for Sikkim is the problem of maintaining its local ecosystem
which is the backbone of its tourism sector. High patterns of consumption
(and waste generation) when tourists reach their destinations is a serious
problem. There is lack of means for protection of natural resources and
local ecosystems from the pressures of mass tourism.
Rapidly changing rural setting of the state brought about by housing
schemes that promote concrete structures over local architecture also has
been a major setback for promotion of rural tourism.
One of the major sources of attraction for the people to come to Sikkim is
its rich natural heritage but the need for infrastructure augmentation to
cater to unregulated tourist influx often results in rampant deforestation
and ecological destruction. This poses a threat for the state as it can lose
its tourist flow to other neighbouring states which are focussing on these
aspects as well. Fragile mountain areas, especially the Himalayas are
constantly reeling under the risks of hydro-meteorological and geological
disasters. Thus, there is always a fear in the mind of tourists with respect
to this issue.
Changes in water availability, biodiversity loss, reduced landscape
aesthetic, altered agricultural production, increased natural hazards,
landslides and inundation, damage to infrastructure, as well as the
increasing incidence of vector-borne diseases will all impact tourism to
varying degrees

IN SIKKIM

State
Profile
Tibetan
argali,
Tibetan
gazelle,
ass,
etc.
Tibetan
The
state
wild
animal
panda,
temperate
shares
habitat
with
its
musk
black
deer,
Asiatic
goral,
serow
and
beautiful
such
as
the
pheasants
blood
pheasant,
satyr
from
larger
tragopan..
fauna,
Apart
the
state
has
a
healthy
species)
which
and
689
butterflies
species
have
been
recorded.
of
flowering
flora
and
plants
around
4458
have
been
recorded
and
being
the
rhododendrons
most
highly
prized.
rivers,
Rangeet,
Teesta
originate
North
from
Teesta
West
Glacier
and
from
are
Rathong
fed
as
they
flow
down
the
other
rivulets.
Most
streams
of
the
high
altitude
wetlands
that
sacred
are
by
revered
locals.
The
Phamrong
in
West,
Lingzya
North
are
waterfalls
some
of
in
spots.
beautiful
scenic
-states
Culture
and
People
comprises
ethnic,
linguistic
many
cultural
groups,
each
unique
traditions
culture,
customs
that
exhibit
strong
bonds
environment.
main
communities
The
three
are
Lepchas,
Bhutias
Nepalis
umbrella
form
category
an
includes
a
large
Gurung,
as
Limboo,
Sherpa,
Rai,
Mangar,
Chhetri,
Bahun,
Kami,
Damai,etc.
colorful
which
is
mix
reflected
of
culture
in
a
rich
array
of
traditional
take
the
year.
place
Hinduism
throughout
Buddhism
are
followed
by
Islam.
Christianity
Some
communities
also
There
languages
are
in
8
the
official
which
Nepali
and
3.1
widely
14
spoken.
Demazong,
by
Sikkimese
translate
to
people,
hidden
which
fruits
and
flowers.
A
land
Padmasambhava,
blessed
by
Guru
association
with
venerable
evident
in
many
saint
facets
is
life.
The
directory
places
kept
of
holy
monasteries,
whole
describes
has
hidden
treasures
or
ters
course
to
of
be
time.
revealed
most
lakes,
streams
considered
water
sacred,
bodies
are
believed
to
guardian
their
own.
Four
deities
holy
of
directions
of
Sikkim
also
protected
and
religiously
sites
important
for
pilgrimage
nd
2
Land
came
into
for
the
many
light
years,
after
it
became
the
22
1975.
Previously
a
tiny
kingdom
an
inaccessible
tucked
away
in
Himalayas,
an
air
of
mystery
surrounds
and
this
small
mysticism
east
of
India,
Sikkim
is
spread
aIn
landlocked
across
Km
7,096
international
Nepal
to
the
borders,
west,
Bhutan
to
the
east,
Region
north
and
of
China
east.
to
The
the
state
of
West
Bengal
Sikkim.
joined
the
North
2002,
Eastern
it
Council
(NEC)
to
become
member.
mountainous
with
one
third
of
state,
its
area
lying
above
3,000
large
by
snowcapped
portion
is
covered
peaks,
glaciers
and
alpine
steep
determining
topography
factor
is
for
a
the
state
vis-a-vis
connectivity
issues,
and
development.
highly
factors
related
varied
to
due
wide
to
range
elevation
diverse
surrounding
configuration
high
mountains,
valleys
and
weather
sub-tropical
ranges
humid
from
climate
alpine
to
temperate
temperature
of
the
state
varies
winter
from
to
sub-zero
during
summers,
while
precipitation
from
mm
to
varies
3,200
mm.
6,10,577
the
least
in
2011,
populous
Sikkim
India.
The
distributed
states
four
within
districts,
East,
West,
North
cent
still
Sikkims
largely
population
rural,
over
60
per
cent
directly
dependent
or
indirectly
on
agriculture
sectors.
and
allied
has
had
a
remarkable
jump
cent
from
in
1951
less
to
than
82
7
per
capita
income
2012
as
Rs.
2,700
1,42,625,
2013
is
recorded
the
northeastern
-among
states.
Natural
Landscape
altitudinal
that
meters
rises
to
the
from
highest
300
point
of
which
Khangchendzonga,
stands
tall
at
8,586
revered
meters
as
and
is
This
elevation
gradient
provides
of
ecological
a
wide
range
tropical,
temperate
sub
zones.
alpine
A
part
and
of
the
alpine
North
Sikkim,
which
adds
variation
to
in
the
natural
is
a
biogeographically
unique
having
a
wide
range
landscape
of
a
small
expanse
2infrastructure
geographical
13
area.
rise
above
7,000
meters,
give
rise
glaciers
numerous
that
into
streams
rivulets
characterise
altitude
areas
of
the
highabove
tree
line
and
abundance
have
stunted
an
vegetation.
are
Kabru,
Simvo,
and
Siniolchu
Pandim,
,which
skies.
adorn
the
Sikkim
cover
over
47
per
cent,
highest
which
the
country.
is
With
seven
Sanctuaries
that
Wildlife
cover
an
2,183
area
of
around
network
is
the
largest
in
stretches
country.
of
Pristine
conifers,
oaks
rhododendrons
form
important
water
mid
to
high
elevations
of
Tropical
of
forests
3,800
meters.
1,800
meters.
the
state
are
home
leopard,
elusive
which
preys
snow

Business Opportunities :
IT and ITes
Improved telecommunications connectivity, affordable cost with a high
literacy rate and strong English-speaking population, and favourable
climate, Sikkim is well poised to serve
the IT industry. Several incentives and concessions for investments in the
IT sector will be the driving force in the long run.
Preparation of extensive projects particularly aiming at e-governance,
promoting IT enabled services such as medical transcription, telemedicine
provide immense opportunities in this field.
Hydropower

The waterfalls of Sikkim that fall from high altitudes and are perennial in
nature are conducive for setting up hydroelectric power plants. It is
estimated that Sikkim has a peak potential capacity of 8,000 MW and a
steady 3,000 MW of hydroelectric power. The Teesta and Rangeet are the
two major rivers with nearly a hundred tributaries. The Teesta descends
from an elevation of about 3,600 m to about 300 m over a distance of 175
km. It can be harnessed for power generation. Hydropower projects under
the public-private partnership (PPP) mode can help harness this energy.

Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical is an emerging industry in Sikkim due to tax incentives

offered by the state government as well as low manufacturing and labour
costs. The pollution free atmosphere are highly beneficial for pharma
investments in Sikkim