Tourist Spot in association with Department of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal.
Tourist Spot 2009, the largest travel and tourism fair in Eastern India was inaugurated at Netaji Indoor Stadium by honorable Tourism Minister, Govt. of West Bengal Mr. Manabendra Mukherjee on Friday. An initiative of Ananda Bazar Patrika in association with Department of Tourism Government of West Bengal, this three day festival from the 26th-28th (11am to 8pm) of June will be having around 210 stalls including national and international tourism boards and various other tour operators. Renowned author Mr. Sunil Gangopadhyay and reputed filmmaker Mr. Gautam Ghosh were also present at the inauguration ceremony.
For the first time ever tourism boards of Finland, Kenya, Thailand, Egypt and Malaysia will be participating under one roof at Tourist Spot. Needless to say, these countries are the favorite hotspots for vacationers across the world. To encourage the initiative, 30 free tickets to London will be given to the visitors chosen through a lucky draw. Noted actor Rishi Kaushik will be sharing his experiences using photo slides with the visitors at the event on Saturday. Renowned Actor Rituparna Sengupta will be present for the final day lucky draw on Sunday evening.
List of participant includes tour operators such as Cox & Kings, Make My Trip, SOTC and Club Mahindra . Also tourism boards from Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa are promoting state tourism here. They are giving comprehensive details on packages and holiday destinations in these states. Travel Agents Association of Bengal (TAAB), Travel Agents and Hoteliers Association (TAHA), Association of Tourism Service Providers of Bengal (ATSPB), collectively had around 125 stalls to guide the vacation seekers to choose the most scenic locations at the most suitable prices.
After the huge success of Tourist Spot in 2008, this year the organizers are looking forward to the upcoming Durga Puja, for yet another successful stint. The festival depends to a large extent on the lakhs of Bengalis who are passionate about traveling especially during Durga Puja vacation.