The new tourism policy of West Bengal and a new campaign on brand Bengal is likely to be unveiled in early 2015.
"The steering committee on tourism has submitted its recommendations with the government. It is likely that the new policy will be in place by early 2015 as the Chief Minister is keen to attract investment in the tourism sector," a steering committee member and MD of Park Hotels Vijay Dewan, said.
He said already an agency was working on an ad campaign on brand Bengal to attract investment to the state.
The tourism industry of the state was expecting the policy as early as in January during the Bengal Global Business Summit, scheduled to be held between January 7 and 8.
Among the major recommendations of the committee chaired by the tourism secretary with industry representatives, was to increase the floor ratio for mega projects by nearly 100 per cent.
In simple terms, industry asked to offer five times of floor space of the land against the present norm of 2.75 times.
Dewan said there has been recommendation to reduce tax on ATF to 16 per cent from the present 25 per cent to attract more flights to Kolkata.
The tourism sector recommended infrastructure development to make Kolkata an attractive destination and for that a large convention centre of over one lakh sqft along with a 300-500 room hotel, four-lane highway to the Sunderbans to reduce travel time to two hours was needed.
There was also a proposal to develop a virgin hill along with the Darjeeling toy train services.
The industry asked for waiver of tax and some incentives to promote home stay in the state.
The organised hospitality sector was trying to push tourism in the state as the capacity of the sector in the city was expected to reach 4,000 rooms in the next three years from 2,000 rooms now.
The state was likely to offer three-four plots in and around Jharkhali of five acres each for development of resorts.
Dewan said his group was evaluating the prospects for Sunderbans.
Meanwhile, CII had organised a road show in the city for Global Exhibition of Services which would be held in Delhi between April 23 and 25 next year.
The state was also urged to promote its services sector in the proposed event to attract investment where host of foreign countries was likely to participate.
