Discount on second trip to forest resorts

WBFDC forest cottages at Paren in Kalimpong

Main Uddin Chisti, TT, Cooch Behar, Sept. 28: Tourists who have stayed in West Bengal Forest Development Corporation (WBFDC) properties between September 26 and October 22 will get a discount of 25 per cent on room rent if they make a second trip before March 31.

Trinamul leader Udayan Guha, the WBFDC chairman, said today: "To attract tourists to our properties across the state in the heart of nature, particularly in north Bengal, we have decided that those who are staying at these places between September 26 and October 22 will be entitled to a discount of 25 per cent on accommodation charges during their next trip, provided it is before March 31."

A WBFDC source said the decision was taken to offset the losses suffered during the Puja tourist season because of the 104-day statehood strike in the Darjeeling hills. The forest bungalows and resorts in the hills are a top draw.

"There is no doubt that the Darjeeling hills are the primary destination of tourists in Bengal. But till two days ago, the Darjeeling situation was uncertain. Many tourists had to cancel their trips to the hills. To boost the inflow of tourists in the post-Durga Puja period, the WBFDC took this decision," the source said.

The source said that as room bookings are done online and tourists need to pay in advance, it was decided that the discount would be offered for their next trip.

"We are keeping records of tourists who will stay in WBFDC properties across the state between September 26 and October 22 so that when they make reservations again, they can get the discount. We urge the tourists to preserve the receipts of their current trip so that we can match them with our documents," the source said.

A WBFDC official said that unlike most private hotels and resorts, where cancellation charges are flexible, the forest development corporation's rates are fixed.

"Tourists are not eligible for refund if they cancel their bookings 10 days in advance. The WBFDC is a government enterprise and we do not have any option to make changes in the rates although we do understand the inconvenience faced by tourists. This is another reason behind offering the discount," the official said.

In north Bengal, the WBFDC has nature resorts in places such as Jaldhaka, Murti, Paren, Rasikbil, Suntalekhola, Loleygaon, Lava and Kalimpong.

"Because of the locations of these properties and the excellent hospitality provided by our staff, the reservations remain steady throughout the year.

"The Puja season reservations this time too had been good, but because of the hill strike and the lack of adequate number of trains from Calcutta to north Bengal in the aftermath of the floods, there have been some cancellations," another official said.