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

State Tourism Dept launches website on Bengali cuisine

Not just places of interest, West Bengal Tourism Department will now tug at the gastronomic strings of tourists with a new website devoted solely to Bengali cuisine.

The recently-launched website is a powerhouse of information on Bengali cuisine, various recipes and also provides region-wise information of food available in the State. The ministry hopes this website will bring Bengali cuisine on the international culinary map.

Minister Bratya Basu said, “Tourists who are visiting Bengal will be encouraged by this website. They can now get any information on the food and culinary delights in any part of the State – be it Cooch Behar or Krishnagar”.

“Food is ingrained in Bengali culture. Promoting Bengali cuisine is a great way to promote tourism,” he added.

Experts in the field feel this move will go a long way in boosting tourism in Bengal and boost the restaurant and hospitality infrastructure in the State. Themes like ‘street food walk’ will also be more popular.

 

Click here to view the website.

Bengal tourism flourishes – tourist footfall doubles in 2014

West Bengal in 2014 saw around 89% growth in tourist footfall as compared to the previous year, state tourism minister Bratya Basu said.

According to the minister, 5.04 crore tourists visited Bengal last year compared to 2.67 crore in 2013.

Apart from the overall growth, number of foreign tourists also went up to 14 lakh from 12.45 lakh in 2013.

“Our estimate is that the overall number of tourists as well as number of foreign tourists will get doubled this year,” the minister said.

The increase in footfall of tourists can be attributed to the higher budgetary allocation for improving the tourism infrastructure in the state.

In 2011-12 the allocation was Rs 44 crore which has gone up to Rs 317 crore in 2015-16.

 

tourism data

Year-wise growth of tourist footfall in Bengal

Tourism Minister promotes Bengal at Travel India 2014

An eco-tourism board would be set up to promote state eco-tourism, said Bratya Basu, the state tourism minister on Friday at the opening of the Travel India 2014, a seminar and exhibition travel and tourism. The two-day Travel India 2014 was organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking on the occasion, Bratya Basu said, “West Bengal is unique in terms of tourism. It has all the indicatives. We have Himalayan mountain range in the north, Bay of Bengal and forests to provide tourists a wide array of choices.”

He also mentioned that state is also promoting various types of tourism like heritage tourism, tea tourism, medical tourism, wellness tourism and the like.

“Tourism products from the state are well-accepted by the foreign tourists and companies alike. Wildlife products, biosphere reserves, Sagar Island, Terai region are being aggressively promoted,” said the state tourism minister.

State will promote Bolpur, Bakreswar, Phulia, Plassey circuit, added the minister. Jhargram, as mentioned by the minister, constitutes a component of heritage tourism.