Now, COVID-19 negative certificates no longer necessary to enter Sikkim

Gangtok: After deciding to reopen the state to tourists, the Government of Sikkim is going to issue 'travel cards' for visitors. Earlier, it was compulsory to produce a COVID-19 negative certificate to enter the state, but it now been done away with. It has now been made 'optional' in the wake of the allowance of inter-state movement (from October 1).

How to get a Travel Card to visit Sikkim?

People who are interested in visiting the Himalayan state can  Sikkim Tourism's web portal sikkimtourism.gov.in. Pre-booking of hotels, travel agencies and vehicles will all be taken care of upon issuance of a travel card. Offline travel cards will also be issued at tourism centers across he state. To enter Sikkim from Rangpo or Melli check post, one has to compulsorily procure travel cards.

A single travel card will be issued to a group and a large number of tourists can enter the state under one travel card.

How to register using a Travel Card?

Travel cards can be generated from online portals within minutes and will have stay and travel details. The travel card will have one main member who will receive an OTP to register. Around 10-15 people can enter the state under one travel card.

The card will have both stay and travel details for the incoming tourists. Travelcard generation is very simple through the web portal and will take less than 5 minutes.

The Himalayan state Sikkim is set to open for tourism activities from October 10. The decision was announced by the state government recently along with the news that Sikkim would open its borders to vehicles coming from West Bengal on October 1, the day the Centre's 'Unlock 5' directives came into effect.

However, some of the premier tourist attractions, including Nathu La, Lachung in North Sikkim and Yaksom in West Sikkim, shall stay shut.

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