Bid to boost foreign tourist traffic in NB

SNS, Siliguri, 21 October 2014: With a view to attracting more tourists from abroad, the state tourism department has planned to invite foreign tour operators to visit the region and other parts of Bengal on a regular basis.

Addressing an interactive session with tour operators of other countries like Italy, France, Germany and Australia, joint director (Tourism) Sunil Agarwal today said five tour operators from different countries visited this region last year.

“We have noticed that the flow of foreign tourists has increased after their visit. This year, we have invited tour operators from eight countries as they took part in a three-day 3rd International Tourism Mart, which was held in Shillong from 13 October to promote tourism in the northeastern states,” Mr Agarwal said, adding, “A total of 22 countries took part in Shillong. Of them, tour operators from eight countries agreed to accept our proposal and visited this region with the help of local tour operators in the Dooars, Kalimpong and Darjeeling.”

According to him, the 4th International Tourism Mart will be held in Sikkim in 2015 and more foreign tour operators will be invited from different countries.

The foreign tour operators left north Bengal by flight today. The state tourism department paid for all the expenses of the foreign tour operators during their tour in north Bengal.

The interaction today was organized by the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA) with help from the tourism department. A total of 21 tour operators from this region took part in the International Tourism Mart in Shillong.

The general secretary of EHTTOA, Partha Guho, explained nature, culture and adventure-based tourism in this region and urged the foreign tour operators to spread the word about the eastern Himalayan region among their clients back in their respective countries.

Mr Guho also pointed out to the Buddhist circuit, including in Nepal and Bhutan.

Working president of EHTTOA, Samrat Sanyal, coordinated the day’s programme.

During the interactive sessions, all of them appreciated the scope for better tourism in this region, though they were much delighted after visiting Shillong, and assured that they would approach their clients to visit this region.

Asked about their views on the restrictions imposed by some countries on visiting certain areas, including Darjeeling for its volatile situation, they said: “The area is peaceful and people are so nice. We did not find problems of militant movement during the tour.”

Olego Vorobevskii, associated with the Russian Federation, said: “I do not have any knowledge of the restrictions, and my country has not imposed such restrictions.”

However, Eva Maria Langley, who came from Germany, admitted that her country had restricted its citizens from visiting Darjeeling during the agitation in the Hills.

“But I must inform the authorities of the present peaceful situation here so that people can visit the region freely,” Mrs Langley said.