Alipurduar, July 10 -- Despite being home to 68 sprawling tea estates and the scenic landscapes of the Dooars, Alipurduar remains the only major tea-growing district in North Bengal without tea tourism. With tea tourism already established in neighbouring Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, tourism stakeholders are hopeful the long-pending initiative will finally take shape under the state's newly formed double-engine government.
The Alipurduar District Hotel and Resort Owners' Association has urged State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh to introduce tea tourism, saying the project could significantly boost the district's tourism industry and generate new employment opportunities.
"We are hopeful that tea tourism will finally become a reality in Alipurduar. We have already discussed the matter with Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, who has assured us that the government will take the necessary steps," said Paban Kumar Purohit, General Secretary of the association.
Responding to the proposal, Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh said the district has immense potential for tea tourism. "Alipurduar, with its vast tea gardens, offers the ideal setting for tea tourism. We have received the proposal from local tourism stakeholders, and the department is considering it positively," he said.
Bordering Bhutan and located along the Assam-West Bengal border, Alipurduar is one of the state's prominent tea-producing districts. Tea estate owners believe tea tourism would diversify the district's tourism sector while creating sustainable income opportunities.
Chinmay Dhar, General Manager of Majherdabri Tea Estate, said many tourists from North India are unfamiliar with tea cultivation and processing. "Tea tourism will allow visitors to experience tea leaf plucking, processing and packaging firsthand while enjoying the serenity of the lush tea gardens. It has the potential to transform Alipurduar's tourism economy," he said.
Tourism stakeholders have also proposed setting up tea sales outlets in every tea estate, allowing visitors to purchase freshly processed tea directly from the gardens while creating an additional revenue source for estate owners.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.