The 6th Kanchenjungha Winter Tourism Festival 2017 will be held at Pelling in West Sikkim from December 25.
The seven-day fest is being organised by the Pelling Tourism Development Association to promote winter tourism in the tiny Himalayan state. “We want the tourists to enjoy the beauty of Sikkim in winter,” Raju Chetri, one of the organizers said.
Several other organizations have joined hands with the organizers including the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association, Sikkim Hotel and Restaurant Association, Sikkim United Tourism Organisation, Travel Agents Association of Sikkim and Sikkim Association of Adventure Tour Operators to make the tourism festival a grand success.
The organizers of the Kanchenjungha Winter Tourism Festival also are keen to utilize the event to encourage conservation of biodiversity and guarantee economic benefit to the local residents through tourism activities.
In addition to the beautiful landscape, the tourists, during the festival, will be able to witness exhibition of photographs, flower shows and fashion shows of traditional attire. The tourists will also get to relish some of the ethnic food and beverages.
For adventurous tourists, the organizers have added paragliding and trekking in the festival itinerary. Moreover, there will be fun sports for children and short distance marathon for youth.
While Sikkim is a major tourist destination in the northeast, the 104-day long Gorkhaland agitation had badly affected tourism in the Himalayan state. “Since life in Darjeeling is normal now, we expect more tourists to visit Sikkim this winter,” Chetri said, adding that the tour operators are hopeful that they will be able to make up the loss.