Trip to gauge tour potential

The tourism hub coming up at Gazoldoba

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri: Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb said on Wednesday that over 50 travel industry representatives from different countries would undertake a familiarisation trip to north Bengal next week.

The visitors are slated to attend Destination East, the annual event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Calcutta on January 18 and 19. The visitors, referred as buyers in the travel trade parlance (they buy tourism products in India or in other words, sent tourists), are from 30 countries. Besides 14 delegates from the US, 12 from the UK and 12 from Russia, will also arrive in Siliguri on January 21, Deb said.

"We feel the trip will help them get a field experience of the destinations in north Bengal, both in the hills and the plains. It would also encourage them to send more tourists to our state," said Deb.

The exercise, members of the local travel trade fraternity said, will help in promotion of tourism in multiple ways.

"First of all, those visiting the region will have a clear idea that the Darjeeling hills are ready to welcome tourists. It would disseminate a positive message among the international travel fraternity. about Darjeeling. Secondly, having so many international buyers together will create an opportunity to promote north Bengal," said a senior tour operator in Siliguri.

During the trip, the group will visit "Bhorer Alo," the mega tourism hub that the state has been developing at Gazoldoba, located close to Teesta Barrage and around 30km from here.

"We want to promote Bhorer Alo as a prospective destination for private investment," said the minister.

Rajiv Lochan, the chairman of the CII's north Bengal zonal council, said: "One of the primary conditions of a popular tourist destination is infrastructure and innovative products. It is good that state has already set up a robust infrastructure platform at Gazoldoba."