Park hotel eyes Sunderbans to set up resort

Park Hotel may consider setting up a resort in Sunderbans, if presented with an opportunity, its managing director Vijay Dewan said Thursday.

"We are open to invest in Sunderbans if the opportunity arises," Dewan said.

The Mamata Banerjee state government has prioritized the tourism sector of late and will be coming up with a new Tourism Policy in early 2015.

Terming "domestic tourism" a key to West Bengal, Dewan said that an investment of Rs.10 lakh in the tourism sector has potential to create 78 jobs. The same investment in manufacturing will generate 18 jobs in the manufacturing sector and 45 in the agro industry.

The Sunderbans has been atop the tourism agenda and the government has announced construction of the world's first mangrove zoo.

The prospective land has been identified for the Rs.400 crore project which will house rare and endangered animals of the Sunderbans stated to be built on the public-private partnership model.

Dewan is part of the steering committee on tourism and hospitality which was formed in September to augment the state's growth and has recommended development of the tourism centres and circuits on a public-private partnership model.

The committee has recommended creating four to five resorts, five acres each in the Sunderbans to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

Dewan said West Bengal ranked ninth in domestic tourist inflow and six in international tourist arrivals.