Sikkim Assembly Passes Key Bills to Modernize Tourism, E-Stamping, and Online Gaming

The Sikkim assembly passed bills to regulate the tourism sector, introduce e-stamping, and amend online gaming regulations. The tourism bill seeks to enhance service quality and ethical practices. The e-stamping bill modernizes stamp duty payments. Amendments to online gaming redefine terms and set penalties for unlicensed operators.

The Sikkim assembly on Tuesday passed a significant bill aimed at regulating the tourism industry, with the objective of enhancing service quality. The 'Sikkim Registration of Tourist Trade Bill, 2024,' introduced by Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia, establishes a legal framework to ensure adherence to safety, quality, and ethical standards.

The bill outlines key policies promoting responsible tourism and mandates stakeholder and tourist behaviors, proposing fines for noncompliance and advocating sustainable practices and community development. Bhutia emphasized its importance in making Sikkim a premier tourist destination.

The assembly also passed the Sikkim Court Fees and Stamps on Documents (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introducing e-stamping to modernize stamp duty payments, and the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2024, defining penalties for unlicensed operators. The session's second day included obituary references and the opening of the state budget discussion.