Kolkata, Sept. 25 -- State Tourism minister Shankar Ghosh on Friday announced an Investors Meet in Kolkata on September 25 to mark World Tourism Day, with the state expecting major investment commitments in the tourism sector.
The event will bring together hospitality, tourism and investment groups from across the country under the theme - "From Intent to Investment". Ghosh said the meet would unveil a pipeline of projects covering hotels, tea tourism, heritage, river transport, eco-tourism and adventure destinations.
The government is also preparing fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to attract private investment, including a proposed Tourism Industry Benefit Scheme following the granting of industry status to tourism.
Ghosh said the Centre sanctioned Rs 57 crore under the Swadesh Darshan scheme to develop Mirik Lake as a spiritual and eco-tourism destination.
The Darjeeling-Kurseong-Mirik belt has been positioned as Bengal's leading global tourism destination, while the Sundarbans has been proposed as the second. New tourism properties are being planned at Taki, Nabadwip, Cooch Behar and Purulia, with tenders for DPR preparation expected before the Puja season. The state is also examining seven ropeway locations, including Delo-Relli, Swiss Cottage-Mirik Lake, Rohini-Giddapahar, Upper Batasia and the Rock Garden-Ganga Maya Park corridor.
Religious tourism is being expanded through 108 circuits covering more than 400 touchpoints, with emphasis on amenities, accessibility, signage and destination development, Ghosh said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.