North Bengal tourism stakeholders request CM to compensate village tourism for strike induced losses

EOI, SILIGURI, 21 Nov 2017: Tourism stake holders from four districts of North Bengal have requested chief minister Mamata Banerjee to appeal tourists throughout the globe to visit North Bengal as the situation has become normal as before and also compensate village tourism through promotion from the government as the recorded strike in the hills have made a huge loss in the tourism industry.

The tourism stake holders especially home-stay owners from the hills have asked chief minister to think over the future of the rural tourism which has faced huge financial loss due to continuous strikes. They have also requested to arrange for the promotional programmes in major cities of the nation through seminars and press conferences with atleast 10-12 members North Bengal.

Jitu Giri, director of Travel Enchanting Himalayas, Kurseong said, “The period of three months during strikes was historic in tourism industry in hills where stakeholders faced a hard time to meet financial crisis. Now the government has to take initiatives to save the life of rural tourism.” Giri suggested organizing colourful festivals to attract tourists and make them feel safe and comfortable that there is no more tension in hills.

T N Ghishing, director of Orange Villa Home stay, Bada Mangwa, Darjeeling informed that without government’s support it will be difficult for another one more year to attract tourists in the hills.

Birendra Tamling, Association for Conservation of Tourism Sikkim chapter said, “The strike also affected tourism industry in Sikkim. He suggested Bengal government to take initiatives for the conservation of tourism and promote throughout nation about the peace that prevailed in hills.   

Raj Basu, Convenor, Help Tourism said, “The stake holders from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri will jointly request chief minister to compensate village tourism through free promotional programmes from the government.”

He informed that soon a press conference will be organised in Kolkata on the theme “Kolkata We Miss You” where stake holders from hills, Terai and Dooars will address the press and request tourists to visit North Bengal.

A deputation will be sent to the chief minister Mamata Banerjee through tourism minister Gautam Deb about several hurdles faced by the tourism industry and stake holders due to strikes.

Toursim stake holders Babit Gurung from Gorubathan, Oshan Lepcha from Malbazar, Hom Khawas from Chuikhim, Pasang Lepcha from Kalimpong, Lela Lama from Jaldhaka, Mithun Sarkar from Jaldapara, Sayantan Pal from Siliguri and many others were present in the meeting.