Darjeeling: Administration has dismissed rumours in Darjeeling that tourists must show voter IDs while checking into hotels, urging visitors to rely only on official information.Hotel associations said no such directive exists and that guests can check in with any valid ID that contains a PIN. Hoteliers warned the misinformation could hurt tourism.A tourist from Kolkata, Agnitra Sarkar said he was initially asked for a voter ID while checking into a hotel in Siliguri. “I was surprised when they insisted on a voter ID, citing SIR-related instructions. I questioned the rule and asked for an official notification. When they couldn’t provide one, they eventually accepted my Aadhaar card,” Sarkar said.The Greater Siliguri Hotel Owners’ Association said there is no such regulation. “There are no orders from either the administration or our association. This appears to be panic-driven by misinformation,” association president Rajib Das clarified.The Darjeeling Hotel Association (DHA) has reported improved occupancy, up to 65% in March, up from 45% last year.DHA general secretary, Reggie Lama said: “April is also looking promising as queries are converting into bookings. However, such rumours could impact the industry. There is no rule requiring tourists to submit voter IDs . We accept any valid ID that has a PIN code.”
