State to hardsell Hills, Sunderbans in London mart

TNN | Oct 30, 2013, KOLKATA: The state government will try to hardsell Darjeeling, Sunderbans and Digha-Mandarmani to foreign tourists at the London travel mart. Some new items which have won geographical indications, like Baluchari sari and Tulai Panjee rice, will also feature in Bengal's stall.

The London travel mart will be held between November 4 and 8 and for that, state's tourism secretary A R Bardhan and Bhismadeb Dasgupta, MD of WB Tourism Development Corporation, will head for London on November 2. 

The state government will highlight some new places in Dooars and also has plans to promote tea tourism for which it's trying to rope in tea garden owners. Tourism minister Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury is planning to start some new ropeways in the Hills, so that travelling can be more fun for tourists. 

Choudhury has already held a meeting with tourism officials so that Bengal can be better represented in London. Bardhan said they are trying to showcase brand Bengal to the world, which chief minister Mamata Banerjee describes as 'Biswo Bangla'. 

Bardhan said: "We shall be highlighting not only the various tourist spots of Bengal but also products that have won geographical indications. That includes mangoes like Himsagar, Fazli, Lakshmanbhog and textiles like Santipuri, Baluchari and Dhaniakhali saris. We will also promote Darjeeling tea in London, as it is a major brand of Bengal and has high demand in Europe. We shall also be carrying Tulai Panji rice and Kanakchur rice to showcase it to the world, so that people can use it." 

Bardhan said the travel mart will be visited both by people from the travel industry and common people. "We hope to get some genuine business by attending this mart," he said. 

The tourism department is trying to showcase Sunderbans to foreign tourists and for that, plans are on to develop jetties of Sunderbans, so that travelling can be much safer and easier while getting off and boarding the boats. Moreover, the government has plans to organize trips to the remote islands and introduce speed boat rides as well. 

To improve connectivity with Mayapur in Nadia, where the Iskcon temple is located and another gigantic temple is coming up, the state government is considering the prospect of introducing chopper rides from the city. As foreign tourists often visit Mayapur, Iskcon is looking for a helipad close by.