State plans tourism law

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, Feb 18, 2018 Siliguri: The state tourism department is exploring options to frame laws to ensure stakeholders of the industry as well as tourists adhere to the state's tourism policy.

Officials of the department have started consulting the state law department on the issue and also brought it to the notice of chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her assent.

State tourism minister Gautam Deb, when asked about the issue, admitted that his department has mooted the proposal. "At present, we are in process of framing policy for the state tourism industry and also exploring possibilities of having a law enacted for the sector. It would help implement the policy and its guidelines in an appropriate manner," he said.

He informed that tourists often complain about irregularities in transport fare, hotel bookings and other issues when they visit Darjeeling hills and the Dooars for holidays.

"We are developing the policy with focus on different segments. But at the same time, we should have legal authority to take steps against any stakeholder who will violate the policy and provisions of the proposed law. It would also help develop tourism in a planned manner," Deb added.

Tour operators in north Bengal have welcomed the plan.