Mainland India is scorching but the cool mountains of Sikkim are failing to attract tourists.

Data sourced from multiple hotels in Gangtok for April suggest the occupancy of rooms ranged between 45 per cent and 57 per cent.

The same hotels had registered occupancy rates between 76 per cent and 82 per cent in April 2023.

Tourism stakeholders have cited several reasons for low tourist footfalls.

“To start with, the connectivity between Siliguri and Gangtok is bad with frequent closure of the highway,” said a hotelier based in Gangtok.

NH10, which is the lifeline of Sikkim to connect the outside world, was last closed from May 6 to 9 for bituminous work along the stretch between Rabi Jhora and Geil Khola in Kalimpong district.

During such closures, vehicles take circuitous alternative routes to reach Gangtok from Siliguri.

“The cost of travel to Sikkim has been very high for the past few years,” said a travel agent.

Apart from the lack of connectivity, many also believe the massive destruction caused by the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) on the South Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim last year still affects tourism in the Himalayan state.

“Lachen which is the gateway to the popular Gurudongmar Lake (situated at an altitude of 17,500ft) is still closed to travellers. Even though other parts of north Sikkim like Lachung and the Yumthang Valley are open, travel is not smooth,” said a hotelier. “Tourists do not want to stress themselves while travelling.”

Figures suggest that hotel room occupancies in Sikkim have been lower since the start of 2024. “Comparative figures from January to April suggest there has been a dip in the occupancy all these months this year compared to 2023,” said a hotelier.

Many people who took hotels on lease have left properties in Gangtok. “It is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain big properties in Gangtok because of poor footfall. People who have taken some properties are holding on to them with the hope that one good season will make up for their expenses,” said a hotelier who decided not to extend the lease of a hotel in Gangtok.

“Gangtok has many hotels which are not finding takers for lease,” said a hotelier in Gangtok.

On the other hand, the tourist footfall in Darjeeling is good.

Many in the travel industry hope the railway line to Sikkim, which will likely open next year, will give a push to the sector.