The West Bengal tourism department will appoint an international consultant by the end of next month, to chalk out a model for attracting more foreign tourists.
The total foreign tourist inflow to Bengal last year was close to 1.13 million, 20,000 less compared to the previous year.In 2007, it was close to 1.15 million.
“West Bengal’s visibility on the international forefront is not up to the mark,compared to states like Rajasthan and Kerala.We will appoint an international consultant, who will help us tie up with the international tour operators and guide us on our marketing and publicity strategies, how to promote West bengal in the international forums.We have floated the tender. Hope to finalise it by July-end,” said Manabendra Mukherjee, state tourism minister on the sidelines of the release of the West Bengal Travel guide.
“We have recieved 27 applications. We will zero down on one by the end of July,” pointed out T V N Rao, managing director, West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC).
WBTDC’s net profit in fiscal year 2008-09 was around Rs 1.12 crore as against Rs 1.92 crore in 2007-08. “We had to write off some losses, but once all expansion plans and revamp is complete, we hope to make a profit of Rs 5 crore with a turnover of Rs 40 crore,” said Rao.
On the domestic front, tourist inflow has improved. In 2007, the total number of domestic tourists visiting the state was 17.3 million which in 2008 increased to 19.3 million. The department is working on a slew of projects, revamping most of WBTDC’s tourism lodges, 80 per cent of which is complete and rest will be completed by March 2010.
It has also approached the central government for funding some of the new destination and tourism citrcuit development projects in Murshidabad, Dooars, Purulia, Bakreshwar etc.
Three proposals have been sent to the central government last fiscal. Western Dooars tourism circuit,Barrackpore destination development and Murshidabad circuit and remaining projects will be sent shortly.
The tourism department is also looking at setting up two integrated tourism malls or plazas, one each in North Bengal and Kolkata with all the tourism services under one roof. While in North Bengal the tourism plaza might be set up in Mainak for an investment of Rs 17 crore. In Kolkata, the department is looking for land close to the Ruby hospital. The projects would take around two years' time for completion, said Rao.
This year, the total tourism budget has not been fixed yet.
The department was reassessing because of the meltdown, but it would not be less than last year’s budget, given the expansion plans, pointed out the minister. The tourism budget last fiscal was Rs 30 crore. The state tourism department is also in advanced stage of discussions with IRCTC, and Thomas Cook for promotions.
A memorandum of understanding has also been signed with IRCTC and the department has also entered into a tie-up arrangement with makemytrip.com. West Bengal’s first travel guide was officially launched today. Priced at Rs 299 or $6, the guide will be now available all across the country and abroad.
