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Bengal to Revive Heritage Tourism Plan on Smaller Scale

By sachiv1, Section Tourism
Posted on Sat Jan 06, 2007 at 06:14:34 AM EST

If things go right, the rickshaw-puller in Bandel would also double up as tourist guide for the former Portuguese colony. With promotion of tourism via locals having proved to be a success at Bharatpur in Rajasthan, West Bengal's tourism department has decided to revive an old project and rope in locals.

Moreover, while the tourist is busy sight-seeing at one such location, the ferry would wait to take you to other heritage sites down the River Hooghly such as Chinsurah, Chandannagore and Srirampore.

Buried under red tape for the last two years, the project plans to develop and promote the heritage spots in Bandel, Chinsurah, Chandannagore and Srirampore. Tourists will be taken to them on special ferries.

The West Bengal government is planning to revive the idea, though on a smaller scale. Earlier, the project envisaged linking such spots from Murshidabad to Chandannagore.

As suggested by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (Intach), the project envisages the development of the places through creation of urban renewal and visitor management.

The government would be meeting Intach officials next week to review the project, said GM Kapur, state convenor, Intach.

According to GD Gautama, principal secretary to the tourism department, the government has decided to consider the project once again. "Although this time the scope of the project will be smaller, we want to explore the possibilities of reviving it. We will be holding talks with Intach officials who are the brains behind the project," Gautama said.

The government is thinking on the lines of a public-private partnership model for the project. The private party in this case will be the cruise operator.

In fact, the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation, which would be organising the West Bengal Tourism Festival, has decided to make heritage spots the theme. The festival would be held from February 22-27 at the Nalban Wetland Ecopark & Water Sports Complex, Salt Lake.

This will be the fourth consecutive year that the festival is being held. Gautama said the government is expecting investments in the tourism sector during the festival. He, however, declined to provide any estimation.

The authorities expect about 15,000 visitors per day, higher than last year's 10,000. Other states are going to participate in the festival as well.

(Source-Indian Express,06/01/07)

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