For streamlining entry of tourists from Taiwan visiting Sikkim entering through Rango Check Post
Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), apprised that Taiwanese Nationals visiting Sikkim were facing problems to enter as Sikkim Permit which was being issued byIndia-Taipei Association, Taipei is not being accepted by the FRO at Rango Check Post. Mehra mentioned that as per information from their members recently, whenever any client wanted to enter Sikkim from Rangpo FRO outpost, officials at FRO were not accepting this Sikkim Permit saying that it was not issued by the Indian Embassy and India-Taipei Association is just an association. As per the FRO in Rangpo (Sikkim Border), they have instructions not to allow anyone with Republic of China or People’s Republic of China passports to enter Sikkim unless they have a clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of External Affairs.
The matter was taken up with the Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs and Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration, Govt of India wherein IATO specifically mentioned that Sikkim Permit is being issued by India-Taipei Association is also the visa issuing authority for many years and there has never been any such problem in the past and this permit was being accepted by Rangpo FRO post.
IATO requested the Joint Secretary (F) – MHA and Commissioner, BOI to look into this matter and issue suitable directives to the officials at Rangpo outpost to accept the Inner Line Permit issued by the India-Taipei Association to avoid any inconvenience to the tourists from Taiwan while entering Sikkim. “We would like to thank the Ministry of Home Affairs and Bureau of Immigration, Govt. of India for considering IATO’s request favourably as Inner Line Permit issued by the India-Taipei Association are being accepted at Rangpo Check-post and tourists from Taiwan are being allowed to enter Sikkim,” said Mehra.
