<span style="color: #222222;">Sikkim's tourism industry resumed operations from today after a halt of around seven months due to COVID-19. Tourism is a key contributor to the State's economy and around 15 per cent of the State's population depends on the sector for livelihood directly or indirectly.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">For safety against COVID-19, reopening of tourism activities has been planned in a phased manner with broad objectives of rebuilding the image of the State as a safe destination with an efficient tourist health safety management system. This includes restructuring industry operations with digital intervention in order to ensure effective tourist monitoring mechanisms and database management. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR Correspondent reports, the first phase of tourism reopening in Sikkim will be considered for domestic tourists and foreign nationals residing in India. Tourists have been advised to preferably possess a valid COVID-19 negative certificate issued within 72 hours prior to date of arrival in Sikkim. They are required to book services only from empanelled service providers and need to fill in details in forms available on the Tourism Department's website, download travel cards and enter relevant details. These cards will have to be shown at the entry points and should be d by tourists themselves or service providers. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The travel card will have to be carried at all times. Tourists may be fined for violating social distancing, mask-wearing and other norms.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">All tourism units and travel operators would have to compulsorily register their basic profile details on a designated crowd-sourcing portal of the Tourism Department. Relevant photographic evidence of sanitization, social distancing arrangements and display of emergency numbers will have to be uploaded by service providers. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Based on recommendations of a stakeholder group representing all associations who underwent training of trainers workshops organized by the Tourism Department, the State Task Force for tourism will approve empanelment of service providers. Guidelines for accommodation, trekking, paragliding and other activities have also been issued. For handling COVID-19 positive guests, protocols issued by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should be followed.</span><br />