WB Govt .to promote itself as tourism funding
From the tea gardens of Darjeeling to the cultural incubator of Santiniketan, West Bengal has much to offer to the world traveller, but it doesn't have a tourist destination status yet.But the state's new Tourism Minister and former IPS officer Rachhpal Singh is determined to change how West Bengal is perceived and attract new investment as well.He made his intention clear at the 'Tourism: Investment Opportunities in West Bengal', a powwow organised on the sidelines of the International Trade Fair by the Confederation of Indian Industry in association with the state government.Pointing out that for every Rs.10 lakh invested in travel and tourism, 78 jobs are created, compared with 18 in other industries, the minister said the priorities of the state government were to upgrade the quality of accommodation at pilgrim centres and to develop the tourism potential of the Royal Bengal tiger's habitat, the mangroves of Sunderbans. About the latter, Singh said a system was being put in place to facilitate the organised exploration of Sunderbans.
Raghvendra Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, made a pitch for private investment in the state's tourism sector. "Private investors should come and experience West Bengal to know more about the state's potential in the field of tourism," Singh said.
Representatives of private companies in the state's travel and tourism sector shared the officer's optimism. Sanjay Arya, Managing Director, Cart Air, a private helicopter operator all set to launch its inaugural service between Kolkata and the beach town of Digha on December 5, said the state had many unused helipads that were over 40 years old and the new government in Kolkata had initiated steps to lease them out for free or at a low cost to private players.
Another development getting a big push in the state is the promotion of luxury cruises. R. Sushila, Executive Director, Vivada Inland Waterways, pointed out that tourists prefer spending a night or two in luxury cruisers rather than suffering train or bus travel to explore the state.Sushila should know. Vivada operates luxury cruises to the Sunderbans as well as the former French colony of Chandernagore as well as day cruises for corporate off-sites. Initiatives such as these are going to make the state, which is famous for being the home to inveterate tourists, the new magnet for world travellers.
(source-India today)
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