Policy to woo investors on the cards: Tourism department

Kolkata: The state Tourism department is expecting to come up with a comprehensive tourism policy by this month, which will encourage investors to invest in the sector, which has huge employment potential.

"The draft of the policy has already been prepared. We will seek opinion from the industry and top companies working in the tourism sector before unveiling it. The week-long Destination East and the Bengal Global Business Summit that will have a session on tourism, will be utilised in taking feedback in this regard," state Principal Secretary, Tourism, Atri Bhattacharya said on Friday.

The state government, in collaboration with CII, will host the 8th edition of Destination East from January 18 to 25 at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town, in a bid to promote the East as a potential tourism hub. It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has instructed the Tourism department to seek feedback from industrialists before finalising the tourism

policy. "We want to ensure growth for the hotel and hospitality sector through this policy," a senior official of the department said, adding that home stay tourism will also be a part of the policy.

As many as 102 overseas

delegates from 30 countries, including 14 from the US, 12 from the UK and 12 from Russia, will gather for Destination East.

"Tourism is a great economic engine and job creator. Through Destination East, we are keen to showcase many tourism destinations in Bengal to the international tour operators, during the mega meet. We also aim to showcase Gajoldoba in North Bengal as a potential tourism destination. There is also an event lined up at Gajoldoba," Bhattacharya said, adding that the aim is to enable the international tour operators/travel agents to take a close look at the dream project of the Chief Minister.

A team of 40 delegates will be taken to Gajoldoba on January 20, so that they can experience the place on their own and invest in the state. It may be mentioned that work for developing Gajoldoba as a new tourism destination has already started, with two high-end companies already taking plots to set up hotels there.

West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation has set up six cottages and another 4 will come up by next month.