Dr. PRAVEEN RIZAL

The prime objective of present paper is to analyse the Cross-border trade through Nathula Pass in Sikkim State. Nathula pass route in Sikkim is one of the three open trading border posts of India in the Himalayan Mountain. It is the oldest Pass from Sikkim to Tibet. The reopening of Nathula Pass for trade between India and China on 6th July, 2006 gave the way to more benefits to India through trade. The Agreement between two Governments has declared 36 items for exports and 20 items for imports. The data obtained through secondary sources represents that the exports of Indian goods to China is more than imports. It has increased from 8.87 Lakhs in 2006 to 4.02 Crores in 2010. The import has decreased from 10.83 lakhs in 2006 to 2.96 lakhs in 2009 and Nil in the year 2010 against 4.02 crores of export. With the increasing trend in the volume of export of goods from India to China, we can state that the cross-border trade through Nathula Pass is in the favour of India. Further, for more growth in trade through Nathula and thereby more benefit, facilities like better transportation system, warehouses, inspection posts, proper weights and measures, surfaced roadway, accommodation facilities to the people i.e., both trades and tourists, and good opportunities for traders should be provided.
KEYWORDS: Cross-border trade, exports-imports, Nathula Pass, Sikkim.

Tourism has strong linkage with the economic growth and development in India. Because of its maximum backward and forward linkages, tourism contributed more in the income and
employment generation in India. However, the development of the tourism sector in India also raises some of the issues related to the environment. This paper is an overview on the environmental issues of tourism development in the context of India Tourism. Observational approach has been used in the present study. In addition, pictorial presentation has been made to highlight the mounting effects of tourism in India. The findings of the study revealed that an environmental issue of tourism in India is different per region or state. From the theoretical perspective carrying capacity, land degradation, pollution, deforestation, climate changes, solid wastes etc have been viewed as important environmental effects of tourism development. A detail study on Environmental Impact Assessment is, therefore, needed in different region of India for the sustainable management and environment protection.
Key words: Environment, Carrying capacity, Natural resources, India

Tourism sector is not only a growth engine but also an employment generator of the nation. Nevertheless, it is the number of tourist arrival which defines the present status and future prospects of tourism. Further, various measures have been used to rank the top tourism economy in the world especially on the basis of tourist arrival, tourism receipt, tourism expenditure etc. The present study is an attempt to overview and rank the comparative status of tourism among the Indian states, with the help of Density of Tourist Population (DTP). The study concludes that DTP can be used as an easy and simple alternative method to rank the states. According to DTP ranking, Delhi, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu has been ranked as the top five states and Union Territories (U.Ts), and Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya are the lowest five states. The present study advocates for sustainable tourism policy in top ranked states/U.Ts and Tourism destination development policy in lowest ranked states/U.Ts. It has also been observed that the North-eastern states of India need more comprehensive planning in this regard. In this context, the present study does not advocate to stop the inflow of tourists in the area of high DTP area. Rather, it alerts the planner and gives a light to plan properly and take immediate sustainable planning and research for the top ranked states/U.Ts and Tourism Destination Development planning for the lowest ranked states/U.Ts.

The present study is a pioneer attempt to examine the impact of tourism on economic growth in Sikkim state. Tourism is one of the important services providing industry in Sikkim state. Its rapid growth contributed in the socio-economic development of the region. The increase of tourists’ influx resulted in the economic benefit to the regional economy by providing income and employment to the local community people. The growth of real GSDP percapita is used as a measure of economic growth. The statistical test shows that there is a positive correlation between Percapita GSDP and tourists’ influx. There is enormous increase in tourists’ inflows to Sikkim in last decade, which shows it growth in tourism. The Percapita GSDP is increasing significantly over a period of time along with the expansion of the tourism sector. It has increased from Rs. 17428 (1999-00) to Rs. 29506 (2008-09). Trade, tourism, hotels, transportation, and agriculture have been found as key drivers to GSDP. The estimated average annual growth of real GSDP percapita is 6.3 percent. This study shows that the tourists’ inflows have its positive impact on the regional economy. It shows the growth of tourism and its contribution to the economy.

Abstract: Despite of so many unique and natural beauties the North-eastern region of India is still place of least visited in India. Though the Government of India has been providing the financial assistance for development of tourist Infrastructure and promotion and marketing, the performances and development of the tourism in states is totally different. In this context, the present paper examines the tourism in North-eastern states of India. Major findings are the inflows of tourists are higher in Assam state and lower in Nagaland. Tourism sectors share in Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is high in Assam. As for the growth rate of tourists’ influx is concerned, the growth rate in Arunachal Pradesh is much higher with 55 percent compared to other states. Further, the Density of Tourist Population (DTP) and The Percapita Tourist arrival (PCT) is high in Sikkim with 101.57 and 1.19 respectively and lowest in Nagaland with 1.35 and 0.01. The major constraints of North-east tourism development and uneven performance among states are insufficient funds, lack of infrastructure, transportation, lack of alternatives means of transport, Marketing, boundary issues, terror effect and permit period. Steps should be taken to wipe-out the constraints for tourism development. Keywords: Tourism, North-east India, tourism development, Tourists’ influx,

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of transportation in development of tourism industry in Sikkim state, India. Further, this study analyses the tourist inflowand the means of tourism transport in Sikkim state. This study is based on secondarydata. Data have been taken from the Tourism Department and Transport department,Government of Sikkim. Simple percentage and multi-average growth rate have beenused to have a comparative study of tourists’ inflows and increasing taxis in Sikkim.Further, Pearson correlation has been used to test the hypothesis. It is found that thetaxis are used as a means of tourism transport in Sikkim. The number of registered tourists’ transport is increasing every year in Sikkim along with the inflows of touristsin the state but not in same rate. It was observed that an average annual growth percentage rate of tourists’ inflow is 12.76 percent and for taxis is 4.67 percent. The paper is limited to the study of road-transport and tourism in Sikkim. Since, taxis arethe main mode of tourist transport, only the total number of taxis and its averageannual growth rate is compared with the average growth rate of tourists in Sikkim.The percenatge rate of increase in taxis should increase equally to percentageincrease in tourists inflows to meet the demand of tourism transport in the future. Tomeet the increasing demand of tourism transport, Government and stakeholdersshould give more focus on the improvement of tourism transport in state.
Keywords: Transportation, tourism transport, road transport, taxis, Sikkim

Trade through Nathula pass route is one of the three open trading border posts of India in the Himalayan mountain boundary of Sikkim State. It is an oldest Pass from Sikkim to Tibet, now TAR-China (Tibet  Autonomous Region-China). The continuation of cross-border trade from Nathula Pass on 6th July, 2006  gave the way to more benefits to India through trade along with the promotion of the tourism in theregion. After reopening of India-China cross-border trade on 6th, July 2006 through Nathu La pass, it not only shows a benefit in trade but there is a growth of tourism in this region. With the increasing inflow of tourists to NathuLa, the economic benefit is open the region and its people. In this context, the present  study examines the impact of reopening of cross-border trade through Nathu La pass on the promotion of tourism in the region. The rising trend of exports shows the positive impact of Nathula trade to India. The data, obtained through secondary sources shows that the exports of Indian goods to China is more than imports. The export of Indian goods to China has increased from 8.87 Lakhs in 2006 to 4.02 Crores in 2010. The import for the year 2010 is Nil against 4.02 crores of exports. With the rising trend in the volume of export, it is clear that the cross-border trade through Nathula Pass is beneficial to India. The impact of reopening of Nathu La pass for trade between India and China is not only results in economic benefits from trade but also results in the promotion of tourism in the region and its impact on tourism.The study revealed that there is a growth in the tourism after the reopening of Nathu La pass for international trade and expected to grow further more in the future, providing the income and employment to the local people but along with maintaining the sustainability in the region. The sustainability of tourism, in this highly natured sensitive zone, is equally important and most. The further research is required to analyse the tourism and its sustainability in the region.
Keywords: Cross-border trade, tourism, Nathu La, Sikkim

Abstract
The present study examines the impact of tourism industry on regional economic and health status in Sikkim state. Tourism industry is a largest contributor on the state economy and an important industry in Sikkim state. The growth and development in tourism has contributed in the socio-economic development in the state. Tourism is also resulting in the improvement in the health status of people in the region. The increase of inflow the tourists in Sikkim state resulted in the economic benefit in the regional. The percapita Gross State Domestic Product is increasing along with the growth of the tourism sector. The average annual growth rate of Gross State Domestic Product was 10.7 percent from 2004 to 2009 and the average annual growth rate of inflows of tourists was 18.4 percent. In the year 2004-05 the population below poverty line was 30.9 percent which decreased to 13.1 percent in the year 2009-10. Tourism has its indirect impact on the health status. Tourism is providing the income and employment to the people and thereby making economically sound, which results in improving the health status. Tourism is helping in reducing poverty and boasts the regional economy, which has indirectly leads to the better standard of living and improved health status of the people of Sikkim.
Keywords: Tourism, Health, Sikkim, poverty

Women empowerment is one major issue of todays. Various International organisations, and governments, are engaged for empowering women, economically, socially, and politically. United
Nation World Travel Organisation implemented an action plan for empowering women through tourism. As far as Sikkim state is concern, tourism is one of the main sector in the state and contributing in income and employment to people. In this context, the present study examines the contributions of tourism in women’s empowerment in Sikkim. The study is based on secondary data. A statistical test shows there is difference in participation of male and female work-force in tourism in the state. Out of the total workforce in tourism, only 30 percent of the workforce is female, which it is less than that of the average female workforce of the state (34 percent). Further, there is wide scope for the women’ empowerment through tourism in Sikkim. The steps should be taken by the government, banks, NGO’s, Self-Help  groups, and so on to encourage and facilitate women in tourism related activities.