ജൽപൈഗുരി ഇനി 'ഡൂവാർസിലേക്കുള്ള കവാടം': ടൂറിസം മേഖലയ്ക്ക് വൻ കുതിപ്പേകാൻ ബംഗാൾ സർക്കാർ

The minister, addressing stakeholders meet in Jalpaiguri on Saturday, outlined five key priorities for strengthening tourism in the region.

Jalpaiguri, located in north Bengal, with its tea gardens, forests, rivers and religious destinations, will be showcased as the "Gateway to the Dooars", West Bengal Tourism Minister Dr Shankar Ghosh said.

Speaking about the tourism potential of the region, Dr Ghosh said Jalpaiguri's strategic location, close to Siliguri, Bhutan, Sikkim and Bangladesh, gives it a unique advantage in developing tourism and attracting visitors.

He said investors have announced investments of around Rs 4,976 crore in North Bengal, including about Rs 700 crore in Jalpaiguri, on World Tourism Day. The investment in Jalpaiguri is expected to generate around 3,000 direct jobs, he said.

The minister, addressing stakeholders meet in Jalpaiguri on Saturday, outlined five key priorities for strengthening tourism in the region. Natural and cultural assets would be developed through better infrastructure, improved visitor experiences and stronger destination management.

A new "Brand Bengal" tourism branding and marketing strategy will be prepared within three months, with tea, the Himalayas and the Dooars as its principal pillars, Dr Ghosh said.

Community tourism will also receive greater attention, with about Rs 50 crore earmarked for the sector. North Bengal currently has around 1,820 homestays, he said.

The minister said cross-border and spiritual tourism circuits would be strengthened by linking Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The proposed Tea Estate Stay Scheme, Industry Status incentives and fresh investment commitments of around Rs 5,000 crore are also expected to provide a further boost to tourism in North Bengal.

Jalpaiguri already has Rs 130 crore worth of private investment in hotels, generating 1,578 jobs, while another Rs 35 crore has been invested in public tourism assets.

According to Dr Ghosh, the district has six major tourism opportunities -- tea, wildlife, riverfront and birding, spiritual tourism, wellness and leisure, and homestays. It has more than 150 tea gardens, over 10,000 migratory birds, eight temples and 149 registered homestays.

Jalpaiguri also has 12 registered tourism service providers and 38 trained guides, with another 124 undergoing training, he said.