E-TOURIST AUDIO GUIDE

Sikkim has around 1117 hotels, 1313 Homestays, 1522 Travel Agents and 667 restaurants, which indeed is a remarkable feat of achievement. Sikkim’s hospitality business aptly fits varying customer’s needs ranging from the most exclusive to moderate and economical. These avenues are coordinated and regulated by various government recognized agencies like the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), Sikkim Association of Adventure Tour Operators (SAATO), Sikkim Hotel & Restaurant Association (SHRA), Sikkim United Tourism Organisation (SUTO), All Sikkim Travel & Hospitality Association (ASTHA), All Sikkim Luxury Vehicle Association (ASLVA), Sikkim Mountaineering Association (SMA), Sikkim Paragliding Association (SPA), and Own Run Hotel Association of Sikkim (ORHAS). Travel and Tourism Ecosystem of Sikkim mainly comprises of the following stakeholders:

The aims and objectives of the project are: To empower the target group with Digital Skills including understanding of e-commerce digital transactions and associated concepts to help them leverage the benefits of technology for Travel, Tourism & other related sectors thereby opening newer as well as better livelihood avenues either as an employee or an entrepreneur.

To bridge the gap i.e., the technology shift in the rapidly changing Travel and Tourism Industry by giving much needed Digital Skills to help the target group cope with changes in today’s Digital world and enable them to make use of Transactional Portal services on Sikkim Tourism Portal to offer tour packages, information on accommodation, logistic, tour guide and other services.

To upgrade/improve the behavior and service skills of the target groups to eventually achieve an improved tourist specific ambience.

To develop a technology-literate Travel and Tourism industry by helping the target groups participate equally and proactively in today's technology driven industry by being better informed and with the power to communicate and interact freely and effectively.

To support local, social and economic development in Sikkim and ensure social justice by helping target groups promote rural tourism thereby creating more tourist hotspots so that Tourism can be promoted across all the 4 districts of Sikkim. Research shows that for every 30 new tourists to a destination - one new job is created.

Digital Inclusion of the stakeholders dealing with indigenous and tourism based products to increase their livelihood opportunities by making their products reach online markets

To enable target groups develop digital content for market promotion using appropriate software tools

Development of VR and multi lingual e-audio contents for improved and better tourist experience.