Bengal defies economic slump, registers growth, says Atri

Amitava Banerjee |MP |16 October 2019 | Darjeeling: Despite a slump in tourism in the country and the globe owing to the economic slowdown, Bengal has not been affected much. Some of the tourist spots of the state have even recorded a growth of around 6 to 8 percent, stated Atri Bhattacharya, Principal Secretary, Tourism, government of West Bengal.

Bhattacharya was in Siliguri on Tuesday to attend an interactive session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries with tourism stakeholders. Later talking to the mediapersons, the Principal Secretary of the tourism department stated: "Tourism contributes to 12 percent of the GSDP of West Bengal. To ensure that the tourism sector continues displaying an upward trend, employment is generated through this sector and to enhance economic activity such interactions are very important. We can identify and rectify the grey areas," stated Bhattacharya.

Representatives of the travel trade industry put up a number of problems faced by them in this region and areas where there is scope of improvement. "We discussed various issues, including reciprocal transport agreements with neighbouring states, tea tourism, home-stays and heritage," said Bhattacharya.

The Principal Secretary did not want to comment much on the recent stay by the green bench on the construction of helipad at "Bhorer Alo" an integrated tourism project in Jalpaiguri. Allegations had been leveled that construction was being carried out without necessary clearances.

"Though I would not like to comment on this as the matter is in court, I feel that there has not been any lapses on the part of the state regarding NOCs and clearances. We have to apprise the Honourable Court of this. The court has ordered to stop construction till the final order of the court," Bhattacharya said.

Regarding home-stays, the Principal Secretary stated there is a home-stay policy that had been formulated by the state government in 2018. "However while implementing it we identified certain grey areas. Work is on to simplify the existing home-stay policy," stated the Principal Secretary, Tourism. When questioned on the UNESCO's and Railway's appeal to the state government regarding encroachments on the sides of the tracks of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Bhattacharya stated: "We are aware of it and even discussed it. It will take time and cannot be resolved in a day as it is a highly sensitive issue."

Bhattacharya stated: "For this an important component would be increase in the number of terminals. The state government has already identified land for the same.