In a bid to position West Bengal on the global tourism map, West Bengal Tourism has taken a slew of measures to develop tourism related infrastructure and facilities. The most important initiative taken by the state government is on the aviation front where the government is keen on increasing air connectivity to the state. Addressing the media in New Delhi, Umapada Chatterjee, Director, Tourism, Government of West Bengal, informed that the state government is in talks with a few airlines urging them to start operations from the state.
“We had a good meeting with Turkish Airlines which expressed an interest in flying to Kolkata airport. We are also in talks with AirAsia, Lufthansa and British Airways, either to start or increase frequency from Kolkata. Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Bangladesh Biman Air, etc. are already operating to Kolkata,” Chatterjee said. These airlines are now interested in bringing Buddhist tourists from South East Asian destinations, apart from normal traffic, he added.
Moreover, the state government is strengthening its airport infrastructure. “The new airport in Durgapur is all set to welcome its maiden flight on 16 April, 2014,” he informed, and added that the airport is promoted by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd, a joint venture between Changi Airports International and West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, IL&FS, Citystar Infrastructure, Lend Lease Co, Pragati 47 and Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development.
“We are already in talks with Pawan Hans for Durgapur-Kolkata flights. In the next three to four months, we will have clear roadmap about flights from this airport. Moreover, we are upgrading Bagdogra airport for night landing facility. New airports are also being planned in Cooch Behar and Malda,” he said. The West Bengal government recently signed a MoU with Pawan Hans to provide helicopter services on Kolkata-Haldia, Kolkata-Asansol, Kolkata-Durgapur, Kolkata-Digha, Kolkata-Ganga Sagar and Bagdogra-Darjeeling routes.
Apart from aviation, the state tourism department is also looking at strengthening infrastructure at various tourist destinations. “So far, we have identified 11 sites for tourism infrastructure development through the PPP model. Places such as Gajoldoba, Jharkhali and Western banks of Hoogly among others are being taken up on a priority basis by the government,” he said, and added that the government has identified 207 acres of land in Gajoldoba in Jaipalguri and 97 acres have been earmarked for tourism infrastructure development in Jharkhali. The state government has chalked out a plan of Rs. 3490 crores investment in PPP projects to develop tourism-related infrastructure.
Moreover, the state tourism department has also initiated aggressive promotion of their tourism products in domestic and overseas markets. “We hope to continue with our campaign ‘Chalo Chale Bengal’,” Chatterjee said. The state received 18 lakh foreign tourists in 2012 as compared to 12 lakhs in 2011 and a total three crore domestic tourists in 2012.
