E&Y report to shape Bengal tourism policy

The West Bengal government would table a new tourism policy this year, based on the report to be submitted by consultant Ernst and Young by July 2007.

The consultant was looking at aspects in evolving West Bengal into a tourist destination.

The report would cover policy related issues, infrastructure development, capacity-building and segmented development of West Bengal heritage sites, said G D Gautama, principal secretary, departments of tourism, micro and small scale enterprises and textiles on Tuesday.

"We are closely working with states like Jharkhand, Orissa and Bihar for a joint initiative to increase the number of tourists coming in this part of the country," he said.

The government also planned to appoint an international consultant for Sunderban area development. The agency would focus on fours areas-- ecology, tourism, infrastructure and displacement of people due to such development, he added.

"As two-thirds of the Suderban area is in Bangladesh, and one-third in Bengal, we need to float a global tender for a consultant," he said.

Apart from this, the state had identified three specific areas for promoting tourism""North Bengal, Digha and Dooars regions.