Bengal should look at boosting tourism within state: Official

The West Bengal government should make concerted efforts to attract more tourists at different locations within the state, a senior tourism official said today.

"While Bengali tourists are among the top travellers in the country, apparently they don't give topmost priority to the tourist spots located in their own state," Regional Director (East), Tourism, J P Shaw told reporters here on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Heritage and Weekend Tourism in Bengal'.

He said according to latest figures, West Bengal figured in the fifth spot in terms of foreign tourist inflow and stood eighth with regard to domestic tourist visits.

"You have everything in Bengal, it is time you showcase the places and further improve facilities," he said, seeking cooperation from the state government and other stakeholders for improving tourist amenities.

Shaw referred to the improving road condition in places like Hazarduari, Bishnupur, and 'classified hotels' (hotels with star facilities) in locations like Santiniketan.

"Nowadays, we have formed new guidelines for hotels. A hotel must also have rooms for differently-abled persons," he said, adding, the state government must draft guidelines for homestay tourism as well.

Homestays should have basic amenities like hygiene, attached bathrooms and one extra room in a house, Shaw said.

The tourism official said the Centre was ready to give funds under the 'Swadesh Darshan' project to the state for improving tourist facilities in the coastal circuits - Mandarmani, Bakkhali and Frazergunj - and religious places like Belur Math.

"While we have already alloted funds for beautification of Belur Math and its surrounding river bank areas, we are ready to allot funds for beautification of religious places like Tarapith and Tarakeswar, if given concrete proposals by the state government," he said.

The official, however, did not give specific figures of the funds alloted so far.

Shaw also talked about the 'Adopt a Heritage' project by the Centre, under which a corporate group takes the onus of improving the amenities of a heritage spot and "turn it into a tourist destination".