Bengal ready with ‘homestay policy’ for tourism

Bengal Government is ready with the new homestay policy and it is ready to be placed in next state Cabinet meeting, state Tourism minister said.

The idea was conceptualised by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while she was travelling in North Bengal. She instructed the state Tourism department to frame the policy as soon as possible.

“The Homestay permits tourists to board and lodge with local residents and get an instant feel of the society and culture there. This gives a chance for the residents to have a mean of livelihood as well,” the minister said.

“The intention is to spread the homestay culture in Bengal only for a growing footfall of foreign tourists,” the minister added.

The families involved in the homestay would be brought under Bread & Breakfast Scheme, which will help them by having a tie-up with Incredible India. Also, plans are going on to start community development and organic farming in places – Darjeeling, Lamahata, Purulia, Bankura, Mandarmoni and in many other places.

 

পর্যটনের বিকাশের জন্য নয়া ‘হোম স্টে নীতি’ তৈরী রাজ্যের

বাংলাকে পর্যটকদের কাছে আরও জনপ্রিয় করতে নতুন পদক্ষেপ নিতে চলেছে রাজ্য সরকার। রাজ্য মন্ত্রিসভায় শীঘ্রই পেশ করা হবে নতুন ‘হোম স্টে নীতি’ জানালেন রাজ্যের পর্যটন মন্ত্রী।

নতুন ‘হোম স্টে’ নীতি তৈরির ভাবনা মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের। উত্তরবঙ্গ পরিদর্শনে গিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী এই সিদ্ধান্ত নেন এবং পর্যটন দপ্তরকে দ্রুত এই কাজ বাস্তবায়নের নির্দেশ দেন।

মন্ত্রী জানান, পর্যটকদের আকর্ষণের উদ্দেশ্যেই বাংলায় এই হোম স্টে কালচার আনার পরিকল্পনা করা হয়েছে। এর ফলে পর্যটকরা এই এলাকার সংস্কৃতি সম্পর্কে যেমন অবগত হবেন তেমনই বেশ কিছু কর্মসংস্থানও তৈরি হবে এর ফলে।

ইতোমধ্যেই দার্জিলিং ও ডুয়ার্সের পাহাড়ের প্রত্যন্ত এলাকাগুলিতে ‘হোম স্টে’ পর্যটকদের কাছে ভীষণ ভাবে জনপ্রিয় হয়ে উঠেছে৷

দার্জিলিং, লামাহাটা, পুরুলিয়া, বাঁকুড়া, মন্দারমনি এবং অনেক অন্যান্য স্থানে – হোম স্টে ফেসিলিটির সঙ্গে জৈব চাষের ক্ষেত্রেও জোর দেওয়া হবে। অরগ্যানিক ফুড হবে আরেকটি আকর্ষণ৷

WB Govt to set up world class tourism centre at Jalapahar, Darjeeling

As part of the initiative of West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, the State Government is planning to develop Jalapahar as a world class tourism centre in Darjeeling district.

The family of the deceased Hill leader Madan Tamang has proposed to donate his ancestral house to the State Government for setting up a tourism centre. This house, Rhododendron Dell, will be the central point of the planned centre.

The State tourism department is planning to initiate facilities of village tourism and home-stay in this estate.

The State Government may also go setting up training institutes for home tourism and guides in the same estate, which is adored for showcasing varieties of rhododendrons.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had taken numerous initiatives for the growth of tourism in the Darjeeling Hills which include Lamahata, new Darjeeling and many more such places. Jalapahar will be another addition to the bouquet.

WB Govt focuses on ‘Home Stay Eco-Tourism’

In the wake of the new tourism development initiatives taken by the current State Government and a deluge of investment proposals, the Government is looking at ‘Home Stay Eco-Tourism” as the next big thing in this sector. Major proponents of this idea believe that this is set to attract a large number of tourists not just from the other Indian states but also from abroad. Decisions in this regard are set to be taken in the nascent Eco-Tourism Board headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee which is to meet for the first time on 8 July.

The Board is set to lay out the parameters for setting aside a room or two for tourists in the house apart from giving several tax benefits. The board will also work towards framing a dedicated and comprehensive Eco-Tourism policy. In the matter of protecting local ecology, the Board is set to move ahead taking cue from the Lamahata model. Task force for the development of models for riverine, coastal, wetlands, hills and heritage areas has been advised. In making the people of remote areas more independent, the State Government is set to provide a certain waiver in the electricity bills, service tax and sales tax, measures will be taken to develop the infrastructure of the areas in terms of drinking water, sanitation and power.

According to the estimates of the State Government, the new initiatives are set to generate employment for about 50,000 individuals primarily. When ‘Home Stay Eco-Tourism’ was introduced in Lamahata in August 2012 just a handful of families took it up, today about 50 homes offer such facility.

Following the major success in Darjeeling’s Lamahata, Eco-Tourism has major scope in Tinchullah, Kurseong and Kalimpong in the Hills. Even though these areas have a picturesque natural beauty there is a lack of hotel and lodging facilities, to harness the potential of these areas, the State is keen to introduce the concept of ‘Home Stay’. The board which is formed in the vision of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee includes 13 government officials and 2 experts. Vice-chairman of the committee is the Chief Secretary. West Bengal is the only state where such a board has legal approval.

The homes will provide for the staying facilities of the tourist. To ensure that the facilities are up to the mark we will take stock of the facilities that are there such as constant drinking water provision, the condition of the bathrooms and kitchens, etc. These days the tourists want to have the local cuisine and may even want to learn how to make it. All these factors will be taken into consideration while framing the Eco-Tourism policy.