Tourism sector neglected in West Bengal
Conceding that the tourism sector in West Bengal has been neglected, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday said the government had identified some new ways, including tea tourism, to give it a fillip and create job opportunities in the state.
“The tourism sector in the state is still neglected. We are failing to exploit it. We have identified some new areas including tea tourism in North Bengal which will attract foreign tourists. Plans are also underway to develop eco-tourism in the Sunderbans,” Bhattacharjee said while inaugurating an annual convention of Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI).
The government would develop tea tourism jointly with private companies. Small hotels would be set up in tea gardens where tourists could stay, play golf and visit nearby wildlife sanctuaries, he said.
Referring to development of eco-tourism in Sunderbans - a world heritage site, Bhattacharjee said he had talks with the Centre and UNESCO in this regard. The state government has also appointed an expert agency to promote eco-tourism in the Sunderbans.
The state Chief Minister said his government was trying to improve infrastructure to boost tourism.
“The government should not run hotels and restaurants, but develop infrastructure. The Centre should also work in this direction,” he said.
On FHRAI’s demand for reducing luxury tax, he said he would talk to his “Orthodox” Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta and take a “balanced view” as tourism creates a lot of job opportunities. “I will try to solve your problems,” he said.
Many hotels are coming up in the metropolis, including one by Indian Hotels, and a Singpore-based company would set up seven hotels in the state.