Siliguri, 26th September: The State Tourism Department launched a programme in Siliguri on Saturday, a day ahead of World Tourism Day. A grand rally was organised from Siliguri College ground with the participation of students from several schools and colleges across the city.
State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee, the Darjeeling District Magistrate, Siliguri Sub-Divisional Officer and several other administrative officials were present at the programme.
The rally started from the college ground and passed through several important roads across the city. During the programme, Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh outlined several plans regarding the state’s tourism potential.
Ghosh claimed that although the previous government had spoken about West Bengal’s vast tourism potential, effective steps were not taken to utilise it. He claimed that not even 20 per cent of the funds allocated to the tourism sector had been spent. He also alleged that there were corruption concerns regarding a portion of the funds that had been utilised.
The Tourism Minister said plans have been taken to specifically promote at least one tourism destination in every district to strengthen the state’s tourism infrastructure.
He also said initiatives are being taken to develop multiple tourism circuits by connecting different tourist destinations across the state. Alongside promoting adventure tourism in the Darjeeling hills, the government is also planning to identify new trekking routes and develop trekking infrastructure accordingly, he added.
