My contributions to the Sikkim Ecotourism Project

1. Sikkim Ecotourism
ANKIT SOOD
NATIONAL ECOTOURISM SPECIALIST

2. Progress Till Now
 The formulation and approval of the Sikkim Ecotourism
Policy.
 Establishment of the Sikkim Ecotourism Directorate
 Marketing Strategies – National & International based
on elaborate market survey reports
 Product Development – Selection of 10 Villages ,
Identification of Trekking Routes and Rest Houses
 Workshop at Selected Villages for stakeholder
consultation, product development and Training need
assessment.

3. Policy Formation
 International Workshop October
2010
 Four District Level Stakeholders
Meeting
 Final State Level Meeting April
2011
 Put on website for obtaining
comments till May 2011
 Final Draft approval by the
Minister and Secretary's – June
2011
 Vetting by Law Department –
September 2011
 Approval by the Cabinet –
November 2011
 Release of the Policy Booklet –
January 26th 2012

4. Sikkim Ecotourism Directorate
•Formed with an objective to
implement the strategies suggested by
the Policy Document
•SED consisting of the Ecotourism
Marketing Cell with DFO (ET) ,
Marketing and Event Managers and
Office Assistants.
•Five Year Domestic Marketing
Strategy approved and the
International Marketing strategy
drafted.
•Implementation of Product
Development underway

5. Functions of the Sikkim Ecotourism Directorate
 Developing various products in
form of presentable packages and
marketing of the same
 Doing human resource
development through training
need assessment and product
identification in selected areas.
 Acting as an intermediary
between the ground NGO’s like
Eco-Tourism Development
Committees for development and
promotion of the identified
ecotourism products
 Developing mechanisms to make
the Directorate self sustainable.

6. Marketing Surveys
Conducted with 200 International Respondents , 500
Domestic Respondents and 50 tour Operators and
Travel Agents – Glimpses of findings
Question National International
Willingness to stay in Homestays 81 Percent 81 percent
Visitation to Protected Area in present visit 26 percent 44 percent
Average Night Stay in Sikkim Upto 4 Days More than 4 days
How was travel arrangement done 70 %on their Through org
own organized tours
Activities done during their stay in Sikkim Mostly nature Nature Based
based and Cultural

7. 5 Year Marketing Strategy – Highlights
 Based on the Marketing Surveys
and Ecotourism Trend – 5 Year
Strategy for targeting Domestic
tourists
 Defining Local Tourism Products
based on Social-Cultural, Nature
and Wildlife and Activity
 Pricing, Placing and Promotion
Strategies Public
Branding
Relations
 Promotion Strategy based on Personal
Public Relations, Branding, Selling
Publicity
Personal Selling, Advertising and
Internet and Digital Marketing . Online
Promtion
Advertising
 Using Certification as a marketing
strategy

8. Market Segments Identified
Explorer Experience Seekers
Spiritual
Recharger
Facilitator
Professional/Hobbyist

9. OUR PRODUCTS

10. Selection of ET villages
CRITERIAS
1. On-going ecotourism activities or potential of natural and cultural
ecotourism.
2. On-going homestays and guesthouses activities or potential of
them.
3. Strong willingness to engage in ecotourism.
4. Good leader/facilitator and stakeholders who are enthusiastic and
serious about developing ecotourism.
5. Good and easy accessibility.
6. Clear community benefit-sharing opportunities.
7. Linkages with other villages, e.g., the village has a market and/or
other facilities and services that attract people from surrounding
villages.
8. Good local administration and NGOs support the development of
ecotourism and provides an enabling environment.
9. The village and its surroundings have sufficient households to
make the investment viable.

11. Comparison of selected villages
{Point Rating List (Bad 1 to 4 Good)}
S.No Village District Score / Ranking Management model
1 Dzongu North 27 Cluster Management Model
2 Hee gaon West 27 Cluster Management Model
3 Kitam South 26 Self- CM Model
4 Lachung North 25 Cluster Management Model
5 Lingee-Payong South 25 Cluster Management Model
6 Uttarey West 24 Cluster Management Model
7 Lachen North 23 Cluster Management Model
8 Okhrey West 22 Cluster Management Model
9 Kecheopalri West 22 Cluster Management Model
10 Aritar East 21 Self Management Model

12. Other products identified for development
 Completed survey of trekking
trail between Tamje & Kabi,
North Sikkim (35 km)
 Identified 3 trekking trails for
survey/promotion
 Hilley/Hee-gaon to Uttarey
(35 km)- West Sikkim
 Lingee-Payong-Rabongla
(30 km) – South Sikkim
 Golitar to Rumtek (30 km)-
East Sikkim
 Identified 3 forest rest houses
for renovation/up-gradation

13. Stakeholder Consulation Workshop-Highlights
 Capacity Building not a part of the initial
project but needed hence the SED
decided to have Two Day workshops at
all ten villages in a phased manner .
 Develop a mutual trust between the
Ecotourism Directorate and the
stakeholders with one to one interaction
and identification of ground partners for
further opertations
 Participatory Resource Assessment
through SWOT analysis, Tourism
Resource Mapping , Knowing about
ecotourism history, ecotourism
products and training needs assessment
followed by
 Trainings, Product Development and
Operations

14. Future Plans
 Product Development through Workshops and
Training in the selected villages in phase wise manner
 Developing and marketing trekking trails, campsites ,
birding and wildlife viewing areas along with
undertaking proper solid waste management.
 Implementation of Ecotourism Policy especially
Departmental convergence and Financial support to
villagers.
 Implementation of Marketing strategy.
 Developing Funding mechanism to make a self
sustainable Sikkim Ecotourism Directorate .

15. THANK YOU