Darjeeling, Mar 09: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has advised the Sikkim government to lift blanket ban on the foreign travelers, who have not exposed to COVID-19, and allow them to enter the state and its hotels and other facilities.

The Sikkim government on March 5 in a notification suspended issuing of inner line permit (ILP) to foreign nationals for precautionary measure in view of ” rapid spread of cornavirus”, a
home department notice issued said last Thursday.
The foreign national, includes, the Bhutanese national has been barred to enter the eastern Himalayan state.
Joint secretary, Home, Sikkim government, Ms Parina Gurung in a notification directed the state tourism department to suspend issuing ILP to all the foreign nationals in view of rapid spread of coronavirus.
Besides permit to tourists to visit Nathu La has been suspended for same reason.
The Union tourism secretary Yogendra Tripathi in a letter on March 5 to Sikkim’s chief secretary SC Gupta said that ” they have been receiving information of several cases whereby foreign tourists
are being denied entry into hotels /other establishments and are being advised to leave the cities/towns immediately by the local/district authoritues”.
” These include foreign tourists who have had no exposure to the virus
or persons who have tested positive for the virus. This is causing unnecessary
panic and harassment to the tourists,” the union tourism ministry letter said.
The letter also referred to guidelines issued by the union health ministry
for prevention of transmission and disinfection of hotels/lodging
facilities where suspect /confirmed coronavirus cases have been
housed and these have been circulated to all travel and hospitality
related associations. for information and compilation.”
” However, in case of tourists with no exposure, it is requested that
necessary instruction may be issued to district collectors/
concerned local officials not to stop their entry and to allow them to
check in to hotels and if required medical testing of the tourists may be
undertaken as per prescribed procedure”, the letter maintained.
UNI