September 27, 2018
Promotion of Bengal Tourism gets a modern touch
The Trinamool Congress Government has been giving a lot of importance to the promotion of tourist places and tourism facilities across Bangla.
In going with this policy, several new tourist spots have been created by the State Tourism Department through the building of lodges and resorts, and roads, and the introduction of new transport facilities.
PUBLICITY
Revamping and creation of websites: The department’s website has been revamped. It is now an exhaustive source of information from which one can have very good ideas of tourist places, properties, important policies, homestays, tenders, etc. The department has also launched a separate website on Durga Puja along with an app.
Publicity through social media: The department has accounts/pages on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, which are regularly updated with beautiful pictures and information, and through which people can interact with the department if they have any queries.
Multimedia promotion: Bengal Tourism has its own YouTube channel on which it has put up videos featuring the State’s tourism brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan, one on Kolkata Christmas Festival and several others.
360-degree campaign: A 360-degree campaign has been launched in the domestic and international sectors – involving digital platform, electronic and print media, smartphone apps, outdoor hoardings and brandings, etc.
Showcasing potential of Bengal Tourism at BGBS: The department has successfully showcased the potential of Bengal Tourism at the annual Bengal Global Business Summits, attracting investor interest and signing memoranda of understanding.
Destination East: Destination East publicity campaign has been undertaken to promote Bangla to foreign tour operators.
Hill Business Summit in Darjeeling: The first-ever Hill Business Summit has been chosen as a platform to encourage investors with special emphasis on tourism in hill areas.
Atithi Bondhu: A new concept, ‘Atithi Bondhu’ (meaning ‘friend of tourist’) has been introduced to facilitate tourists, especially foreign tourists and delegates.
Publications: Brochures are published by the department on the various tourist spots, and new brochures are constantly created as soon as new services are introduced or tourist spots are established.
PROMOTION
Promotion through electronic media and FM: Ad spots are booked on major international and national television channels and FM stations to promote the tourist attraction of the State.
Promotion through print media: Advertisements depicting the tourist spots of Bengal, with the tagline of Bengal Tourism, ‘The sweetest part of India’, are carried out in national and international as well as local, magazines of repute.
Other branding platforms: CSTC bus tickets, digital LED display boards at traffic junctions, souvenirs like mugs, coasters and others, hoardings at Kolkata and Delhi Airports, and in Delhi bus shelters and the Delhi Metro, etc.
PARTICIPATION IN FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
A big part of the publicity and promotion of Bengal Tourism happens through the participation of the State Tourism Department in various major international and national travel and tourism industry events, conducting roadshows in India and abroad as well as through advertisements at local fairs and festivals.
International events: International Travel Trade Show Berlin (ITB Berlin), ITB Global, ITB Asia, World Travel market London (WTM London), Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur) (or International Tourism Trade Fair) in Madrid, Bangladesh Travel & Tourism Fair (BTTF) in Dhaka, and roadshows in San Francisco, Seattle, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, etc.
National events: Travel and Tourism Fairs (TTF) in Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, etc., Travel India Summit, India International Trade Fair, Tea & Tourism Festival in Darjeeling, Bengal Leads in Kolkata), Travel East, Travel India, International Buddhist Conclave, India International Travel Mart (IITM) in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi and other places, IATO Annual Convention, India Travel Mart, Holiday Expo, IITTE Mumbai, SATTE in Mumbai and New Delhi, India International Mega Trade Fair in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar, ITM (Government of India) in Guwahati and Shillong, Destination East, North Bengal Conclave Cross Border Convention in Siliguri, roadshows in Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and other places, etc.
Local fairs and festivals: Isale Sawab at Furfura Sharif, Dooars Utsav, Pragati Utsav, Kolkata Christmas Festival, etc.
OTHER WAYS
Tourism in Bangla is also promoted through the various celebrations on World Tourism Day on September 27, the tableaux on Independence Day and Republic Day, etc.
