News
| ´Tourism to get a filip this festive season’ |
| SILIGURI, Sept. 2: The state tourism minister, tourism department officials and tour operators sounded expectant of a tourism revival in Darjeeling with the festive season approaching. All expressed the view that a satisfactory formula might come out of the ensuing tripartite dialogue on the Darjeeling tangle and restoration of peace in the Hills would rejuvenate tourism prospects.
The state tourism minister Mr Manab Mukherjee, said that the state government was optimistic of a breakthrough in course of the proposed tripartite dialogue and with peace restored in the Hills it would do everything to boost up the long- flagging tourism prospects in the Hills. “Pujas is imminent and we want to see Darjeeling Hills brimming again with tourists from far and near. We do not want this tourist season to be wasted away like the previous years because of the political turmoil,” he said. "The state government is pinning hopes on the approaching tripartite dialogue and if a breakthrough is achieved, the state tourism department would step in immediately to boost up the sagging tourism sector in the hills,” the minister said. Asked whether the state government was contemplating any special incentive for the Hill tourists, the minister said that peace must be restored first and only then the government would be in a position to think of any package. With apprehension of another tourist season being washed out in the wake of the dragging tension in the Hills the tour operators are also looking forward to the proposed 8 September tripartite dialogue on Gorkhaland. “Something positive must happen during the negotiation, otherwise we would be back to square one. Wasted tourist season year after year would definitely affect the economy of the Hills as well as the plains. The pinch is being felt and all must understand this and work out a solution,” said Mr Raj Basu, whose concern has major stakes in the tourism sector here. Mr Gopal Lama, the deputy director, West Bengal Tourism, said that with the situation in the Hills promising to look up, his department was taking initiatives to bring things back on the right track. “For instance, several important members of the Conglomerate of Bengal Hotel Owners, the apex body of hotel proprietors in West Bengal, visited Darjeeling last week to take stock of the situation. They have also proffered some corrective measures to boost tourism prospects,” he said. “The Union tourism and state tourism departments are keeping a close watch on the situation and would do everything to pump fresh impetus in the Darjeeling hills,” Mr Lama said. |
| GJMM to revive tourism in the hills |
| DARJEELING, Aug.7: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Mukti Morcha is taking special steps to revive the tourism industry in the Hills for the coming festive season after it got a setback the previous season due to the indefinite strike called by the party. “It is evident that tourism suffered disturbances in the previous season but this season we will refrain from calling strikes as festivals should be celebrated in a peaceful environment. Other programmes like dharnas and rallies will be held though”, assured party president Mr Bimal Gurung.
Under the supervision of the Jana Mukti Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association, a body of the hotel owners in the Hills and an affiliate of GJMM, the party will organise tourist festivals not only in Darjeeling but in different parts of the Hills. “This time the tourists will be given special care and hospitality. To boost tourism the hotel owners will also organise carnivals for the tourists in different places of the Hills”, Mr Gurung said. The entertainment programmes organised in the previous season was a big hit amongst the tourists until the GJMM called the indefinite strike. Addressing the apprehensions of prospective tourists Mr Gurung said, “There will be no disturbance this season so the tourists have nothing to fear”. Another major attraction this season is the GJMM´s initiative to revive the Brigade of Gurkhas Gold Cup, a big affair in the Hills till the mid-eighties when it was stopped. “We are thinking of reviving the Football Gold Cup around October to give a filip to tourism”, Mr Gurung declared |
| Sikkim to become tourist paradise |
| Gangtok: Sikkim’s effort in making Tourism a sustainable industry is bearing fruit, as it is evident from the awards to the state for its achievements in this sector. The state of Sikkim has been selected as the Emerging Tourism State of 2008 for “Today’s Traveller Platinum Award”. The award will be given in a ceremony at the Hotel Crown Plaza in New Delhi on 25th August 2008. Ms. Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Tourism will be presenting the award. In 2007, Today’s Traveller had awarded Sikkim as the Most Picturesque Destination and this year’s award is a recognition of Sikkim Government’s persisting effort to make Sikkim a tourist paradise.Earlier on 3rd July 2008, Hee-Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society, West Sikkim, was bestowed the CNBC Awaaz Travel Award 2008 for Best Example Of Community Based Tourism. The award acknowledges the outstanding contribution made by the Society towards Indian Travel and Tourism Industry. The award was handed over by Ms. Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Tourism and received by Mr. N. K. Subba, MLA and patron of the Hee-Bermiok Society. Tourism Department, in a press release, has congratulated the people of Sikkim for the awards and acknowledged their contribution in making the state worthy of coveted awards. (With IPR input)
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Khangchendzonga Trek
Total days :17 Days
Total days :17 Days
Dzongri Trek
Total days :8 to 12 days
Total days :8 to 12 days
