Tourism department launches Sharodotsav app, upgrades website

Kolkata: In a bid to give a big push to tourism in the state with the Durga Pujas merely 20 days away, the state Tourism department on Wednesday launched its upgraded website and along with the Sharodotsav app for providing a comprehensive route map for hassle-free pandal hopping in the city.

"We will soon link our app with the app of the Transport department and that of the Kolkata Police as we want to showcase the Durga Puja in a big way this year. We are stressing on branding too with advertisements of tourism at busy railway stations and Kolkata and Bagdogra airports.

"A lot of foreign tourists will come to the city during the Durga Pujas and also during the Under-17 World Cup scheduled in October. We will have interesting tourist packages for them," state Tourism minister Goutam Deb said after launching the Sharodotsav app and unveiling the upgraded informative website of his department. He said that branding activities will also be pursued at puja mandaps in Kolkata and Siliguri. Minister of state for Tourism Indranil Sen said that in the next six months, the department will complete renovation of all the 42 properties under the department.

"People will witness a sea change in the infrastructural facilities of the tourist resorts. People residing at these places will get facilities like the star hotel," Sen said. Principal secretary of state Tourism department Atri Bhattacharya said that chefs from the tourist resorts will be trained by well known chefs of star hotels. "This will equip them to serve continental and Chinese dishes too if there is a demand from the tourists," he added. The department will also hold a Durga Puja photography competition on the spirit of the Puja. The contest will begin from September 26 and will end on 29th. Participants will have to register through the Sharodotsav mobile app and can send photographs through it. The best three entries will be awarded.