Mr. Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) apprised that Taiwanese Nationals visiting Sikkim were facing problems entering as the Sikkim Permit which INDIA-TAIPEI ASSOCIATION was issuing, Taipei is not being accepted by the FRO at Rango Checkpost.
Mr. Mehra mentioned that as per information from our members, recently, whenever any client wanted to enter Sikkim from RANGPO FRO outpost, Officials at FRO were not accepting this SIKKIM PERMIT saying that this permit 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 Peoples Republic of China passports to enter Sikkim unless they have a clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs or Ministry of External Affairs
Matter was taken up with Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs and Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration, Govt. of India wherein we specifically mentioned that Sikkim Permit is being issued by India-Taipei Association who are also the Visa Issuing Authorities 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 suitable directives may be issued to the officials at Rangpo outpost 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 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 Mr. Mehra.
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