Image: Northeast Now

Adventure Tourism Festival 2020 was inaugurated by Sikkim tourism minister, B S Panth in front of Tourism Information Centre at MG Marg in Gangtok on Friday.

The ten-day long festival is being organized by Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure & Eco-Tourism (IHCAE), Chemchey under Tourism & Civil Aviation Department to further promote adventure sports and to highlight activities of IHCAE.

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After inauguration, the minister accompanied by secretary to Tourism & Civil Aviation Department, T T Bhutia and other dignitaries also visited stalls of mountaineering and adventure equipment.

The venue also has a booking counter for interested people to participate in various adventure activities to be carried out during the festival.

Activities to be started from February 3 includes camping at SGMI Rock Area in Bulbuley, hiking and trekking at Rateychu, tree top rope course at SGMI Rock Area, natural rock climbing at SGMI Rock Area, mountain biking from Ganesh Tok to Luing, sports climbing at Chemchey, zip line crossing at SGMI Rock Area and hill climbing.

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Speaking to media persons after the inauguration, tourism minister mentioned that the main objective of the festival was to encourage youths to come to the field of adventure tourism.

He stated that the State Government will continue with such activities to bring more youths in adventure and eco-tourism.

Tourism secretary briefed about various adventure activities to be carried out mainly in Gangtok surrounding and at other parts of the State during the festival.

He stated that IHCEA has been carrying out various activities in adventure and eco-tourism activities since the inception of the institute in 2009 by taking youths of Sikkim and other parts of the country.

He also spoke about various activities of the institute.

Likewise, IHCEA deputy director, Kazi Sherpa stated that the main objective of the festival was to highlight the potential of Sikkim in adventure activities and eco-tourism and to create mass awareness especially among youths on these fields.

He stated that adventure sports were very important for a person to stay fit and healthy.

He mentioned that the registration fees for these activities have been kept very reasonable as the festival mainly targeted to create awareness in adventure activities.

Sherpa stated that ICHEA has kept such event outside its premises for the first time and has plans to promote this festival as an annual event of Sikkim.

 

Sagar Chhetri is Northeast Now Correspondent in Gangtok. He can be reached at: [email protected]