Siliguri, Oct. 16 -- In a major initiative to promote tourism and provide visitors with easy access to information on tourist destinations, the West Bengal Tourism department has launched a mobile application titled 'Discover Darjeeling' for Darjeeling district, including information on tourism spots in Kalimpong.
Tourism minister Shankar Ghosh officially launched the application on Friday evening at the State guest house in Siliguri. The app is available for download on the Google Play Store and provides information on tourist destinations, activities, accommodation, transportation and other tourism-related services.
The application features several tourism circuits, including the Adventure Circuit, Darjeeling Town Trail, Eco Tourism Circuit, Food Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Lamahata Trail, Siliguri Town Trail, Spiritual Circuit, Tea and Culture Circuit and Wildlife Circuit. Visitors can access information about adventure activities, heritage sites, food, tea culture, wildlife and other attractions through the respective sections.
Information related to Durga Puja and pandals has also been uploaded on the application, including details and addresses of various puja organisers. Police helpline numbers have also been included to provide assistance to tourists and the public.
"The new app will help visitors access verified tourism services, while West Bengal's tourism sector will also be promoted as a strong and trusted brand. I would request every government official to make people aware of the application and its use. Through this app, tourists will also be able to get information about hotel bookings, taxi bookings and other services," Ghosh said.
The minister further said that QR codes of the application will be installed at Durga Puja pandals, allowing visitors to scan the codes and download the app directly on their mobile phones.
Meanwhile, the district administration selected 12 clubs for awards in different categories as part of the Durga Puja celebrations. The announcement was made in the presence of the minister during the programme.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.