Siliguri, 30th September: A key meeting was held at the Siliguri State Guest House to prepare a six-month roadmap aimed at making tourism in the hills more attractive and improving facilities for tourists. The meeting was organised as a joint initiative of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and the Tourism Department.
MoS Bishal Lama, Minister Shankar Ghosh, administrative officials from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, the Kurseong MLA, the District Magistrates of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, and GTA officials were present at the meeting.
Several issues related to the development of tourism in the hills were discussed in detail, including tourism infrastructure, traffic management, waste management, homestays and the development of new tourist attractions.
It was decided that tourist destinations including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik, Dudhia, Mungpoo and Kurseong would be further developed and made more attractive. The meeting also held an initial review of plans to further develop Darjeeling as an international tourism destination.
To attract more tourists, various events including a Tea Festival, vintage car rally, walkathon, river rafting and paragliding are planned in the coming days. Plans are also being considered for large events showcasing the traditional culture and heritage of the hills through special festivals and cultural programmes.
Traffic congestion and waste management, two of the major challenges in the hills, also received special attention. A plan has already been prepared for a ropeway in Darjeeling to help reduce traffic congestion, and an important meeting was held on Wednesday morning in this regard. Discussions are currently underway on five ropeway projects.
Plans are also being considered to improve the infrastructure and tourism appeal of sites including Mahakal Temple, Sevoke Kali Temple, the old bungalows at Kalijhora and places associated with Rabindranath Tagore in Mungpoo.
The registration of homestays was another key issue discussed at the meeting. While most homestays in some districts of North Bengal are reportedly registered, a large number of homestays in tourism hubs such as Darjeeling and Kalimpong are still operating without registration. Concerns were also raised over some homestays accommodating tourists without collecting identification documents.
The police administrations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong have been directed to prepare a detailed report on the number of registered and unregistered homestays. To make the process more transparent and digital, homestay registration, renewal and other procedures will be brought online. Those planning to start new homestays will also be able to apply directly through the government website and submit the required documents.
The meeting also discussed further digitisation of the tourism industry, including revamping the websites of the Tourism Department. Plans are also underway to redevelop land under the Tourism Department and various government tourism assets across the hills.
The development plans are also expected to benefit from the Centre’s allocation of Rs 57 crore for the tourism sector after a long gap. There are also plans to link the Durga Puja festival with hill tourism, with Darjeeling’s Chowrasta and Mall Road set to receive a new look along with attractive lighting arrangements.
