Sikkim Govt Launches Student Trekking Program to Promote Tourism Education

Sikkim's Tourism and Civil Aviation Department has launched a new innovative program titled the "Sikkim Student's Trek" with the aim of offering practical tourism experience to students. The program, which had the theme "Sikkim Where Nature Smiles," was launched during the state's 50th Statehood Anniversary celebrations.

The event was chaired by Tshering Thendup Bhutia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and also graced by the presence of Kazi Sherpa, Joint Director of Adventure, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, along with other high-ranking officials. The program will provide students with hands-on experience of the adventure tourism industry through exposure to some of the most picturesque trekking routes in Sikkim.

The initiative is organized in three phases with two treks for college students and one for senior secondary students. College students will go for a 5-day trek of the Dzongri-Goechala trail, and senior secondary students will undertake a 3-day trek to Barsey. A total of 100 college students and 60 senior secondary students who study tourism-related subjects will be covered under this scheme.

Minister Bhutia underscored the importance of the opportunity, compelling students to earn worthwhile knowledge and direct experience in the tourism industry. He further assured participants that all the expenditure associated with the trek will be covered by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department in full. This initiative has been carefully crafted by the department to provide students with substantive exposure and hands-on learning in tourism. We plan to introduce more such programs in the future to further develop their industry expertise," Bhutia said at the occasion.