Sikkim has transitioned to a fully digital system for issuing Protected Area Permits (PAPs) and Restricted Area Permits (RAPs) to foreign nationals, discontinuing physical permits. This move, following Union Home Ministry directives, aims to enhance national security and streamline the entry process for tourists visiting sensitive areas like Tsomgo Lake and Yumthang Valley. The state, which received over 71,000 foreign tourists in 2025, anticipates this digital shift will ease permit acquisition for visitors. Sikkim was also recognized as the 'Most Tourist-Friendly State of India' at the Bengal Travel Mart.