Resurrecting Kalyani Through Tourism – A World War
II US Army Base.
SUBHASISH CHAKRABORTY
(Travel Writer & Consultant Tourism)
B-14/148, Kalyani,
District: Nadia,
West Bengal –741235, India.
Tel: +91-33-25820092
e-mail: [email protected]
CONTENTS
Sl. No.
Particulars
Page No.
1
Preface
2
2
Prologue
3
3
Fact File of Kalyani Township
7
4
Background of West Bengal’s Tourism Industry
11
5
Relevance of Introducing Tourism in Kalyani
15
6
Sustainable Tourism – What it Means!
18
7
Futuristic Tourism Development Avenues in Kalyani
19
and the District of Nadia
8
Benefits of Sustainable Approach to Tourism in
32
Kalyani
9
Foreign Investment in West Bengal’s Sustainable
Tourism Landscape
34
10
Role of Public Relations in the Promotion of West
36
Bengal’s Tourism Industry
11
Conclusion
1
39
Preface
This Tourism Plan entitled – “Resurrecting Kalyani through Tourism – A Case Study”
deals exclusively with the pros and cons of Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Tourism in
the township of Kalyani and the District of Nadia, easily one of Eastern India’s most
outstanding cultural/spiritual tourism destinations. The challenges that this new form
of Tourism throws and ways and means of popularizing the Sustainable Tourism
experience of the region to a worldwide clientele has been covered in this Tourism
Plan.
A sincere attempt has been made to unravel Kalyani and the District of Nadia as a
marvelous Eco‐Friendly & Sustainable destination. The intention has all along been to
create a synthesis out of the Tourism phenomenon. The Plan highlights and justifies
the need for Sustainable Tourism in Kalyani and attempts to satiate the burning desire
of modern day traveler for an experience that has the effect of transformation and
making them processed human beings.
Concepts like developing a War Memorial Centre, launching Horse Driven Carriages,
developing the wetland areas into exclusive nature based tourism zones, the concept
of Tree House Recreation etc…if implemented in a planned manner would
undoubtedly catapult this part of Eastern India into the mainstream of India’s
burgeoning tourism industry.
It is to be borne in mind that the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has been
giving a lot of importance to develop “Integrated Tourism Circuits” and is providing
liberal financial assistance for projects that are outstanding in terms of quality tourism
experience and the township of Kalyani and the District of Nadia is an ideal
unexplored destination.
I am hopeful that this Tourism Project will generate awareness and come to the notice
of those International organizations who patronize tourism that is high on quality and
sustainable in nature.
Subhasish Chakraborty
2
Prologue
The Indian state of West Bengal is a land of stupendous dimensions – colorful,
traditional, modern …. Bengal meets the expectations of every type of tourist. With
her varied topography, picturesque valleys, high mountain peaks, cascading rivers,
haunting wilderness, she never ceases to surprise the tourists with her kaleidoscopic
attractions. Nevertheless, in terms of tourism the state is still a backbencher as
compared to other Indian states.
The eco-friendly township of Kalyani, located at a distance of 50 Kms. from the City
of Joy – Kolkata though comes as a breath of fresh air for the discerning tourists. This
little known township was launched with a lot of fanfare and expectations by the great
Bengali statesman of yesteryears – Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.
A Surreal Sunset on the Wetlands of Kalyani (Google Image)
This township in the district of Nadia, renowned for its spiritual legacy was mooted at
a time when the “City of Joy” Kolkata was reeling under the pressure of the influx of
refugees and the then Chief Minister of West Bengal – Dr. Bidhan Roy had dreamt of
3
a satellite township to ease the population from the city and that is how Kalyani was
born, phoenix-like, out of the ashes of World War II, at the site of what was once an
American Military Base – “Roosevelt Nagar”, aptly named after the former President
of USA – Franklin D. Roosevelt who was the 32nd President of USA and served in
this august office from 1933 to 1945.
Many believed that Kalyani would evolve as one of India’s model towns in terms of
planning with an exclusive industrial belt that would propel the local economy to even
greater heights. However, the so called “Industrial Growth” never saw the light of the
day.
In its present avatar as India’s “Cleanest Urban City” or India’s first “Open
Defecation Free City” Kalyani has evolved into a much sought after residential
district and for the past decade has been attracting a lot of NRBs (Non Resident
Bengalis) many of whom have set up their dream homes in Kalyani’s pristine
environment. Much of the credit for winning the hearts of the discerning global
Bengali diaspora goes to Kalyani Municipality, which has been consistently receiving
the coveted “Best Municipality Award” for a number of years now.
Apart from its cleanest Indian city image, the outside world is largely unaware of
Kalyani’s rich virile past – that of being an American Military Base during World
War II when Asia became the centre of war activity. A leisurely stroll through the
township’s mettaled roads and tree lined avenues, reveal remnants of the war like the
military barracks, truck and tractor garages, Utarborath’s Army Hospital, the Air
Force Station at Kapa, a drinking well with names of soldiers engraved etc… all of
which transports one to a bygone era.
Municipal Elections and the Change of Guard:
In the 2010 Municipal Elections, the residents of the township have voted
unequivocally in favor of the Trinamool Congress and they have reposed their faith
on the visionary leadership of Dr. P.K. Sur, who comes as a breath of fresh air in the
state’s otherwise turbulent political landscape. Dr. Sur, the suave Chairman of
Kalyani Municipality is a widely traveled man. Being a Zoologist with academic
stints at renowned universities in USA and Philippines, he knows a thing or two about
the Global Tourism Phenomenon.
4
By transforming Kalyani into a model tourist town in West Bengal, Kalyani could
ideally be the base from where the discerning international tourists can visit places of
tourist interest like the ISKCON temple headquarter at Mayapur, Nabadweep Dham,
Shantipur, Fulia, Bethuadari Forest, Murshidabad etc…
At a time when the entire state is engrossed in the “Industry Vs Agriculture” debate,
Sustainable Tourism can play a significant role without trespassing on the lives of the
local inhabitants. Miss Mamata Banerjee, the newly elected Chief Minister of West
Bengal has declared at every available forum that she will transform Kolkata to
London, Digha to Goa and Darjeeling to Switzerland.
The Tree Lined Stadium Road at Kalyani
Travel industry watchers are waiting with bated breath Miss. Banerjee’s next big
move on Tourism and there is every reason to believe that Kalyani with its pristine
nature, wide open spaces and verdant parklands is going to figure prominently in her
scheme of things.
Chairman’s Vision:
I was fortunate to interact with Dr. Sur, the Chairman of Kalyani Municipality at a
recently held seminar in Kalyani and during the brief tete-a-tete over a cup of piping
hot Cappuccino coffee, Dr. Sur revealed his plans for the promotion of Tourism in
Kalyani and the District of Nadia thus – “We will promote Tourism that is
Unconventional as well as Responsible. Mass homogenized Tourism in the form of
5
hotel-sightseeing and back-to-the-hotel stuff will have no place here. In the coming
years I foresee tourists in Kalyani staying in Tree houses instead of luxurious multi
stored apartment hotels, promote indigenous Bengali cuisine in place of noveau
international cuisine, promote tribal folklore and music instead of Rock Concerts,
promote eco-friendly farm and agriculture tourism instead of five star luxury tourist
experiences and of course set a trend for horse driven carriages instead of the
polluting vehicular traffic as far as transportation is concerned”.
Dr. Sur seemed particularly interested in highlighting Kalyani’s unique “Colonial”
image and with the red molten ball dipping across the shimmering Kalyani Lake
horizon providing for a truly ethereal setting to our conversation, Dr. Sur was a touch
poignant when he declared – “The sheer immensity of launching this one-of-its-kind
Colonial Tourism project in Kalyani baffles me. Although the concept is still in its
infancy, we are preparing the blueprint which should be ready in six month’s time.
Apart from the Ministry of Tourism, we have to garner support and technical
knowhow from the Indian Army. The key landmark is to build a world class War
Memorial Centre, which will have a dedicated arena where the World War II, India’s
struggle for independence as well as Indian Army’s present status as a global military
giant will be represented pictorially”.
Let us hope Dr. Sur’s “Mission Tourism” is successful.
6
Fact File of Kalyani Township
Location
Kalyani is located on the northern tip of the Kolkata Metropolitan District about 50
Kilometers away from the city of Kolkata and forms the continuous urban
agglomeration, which has developed along the twin axes of the Hooghly river.
Average Monthly Climatic Conditions of Kalyani
*
Month
*
Rainfall
(mm)
*
Max
Temp
(0C)
*
Min
Temp
( 0C )
*
Morning
Relative
Humidity
(%)
*
Afternoon
Relative
Humidity
(%)
**
Wind
Speed
(Kms/hr)
**
Bright
Sunshine
Hours
Jan
17.6
25.1
11.2
92
49
2.9
7.7
Feb
45.9
28.5
15.2
93
50
3.2
8.7
March
60.5
32.9
20.0
90
44
4.1
8.6
April
63.0
36.0
23.7
88
50
6.4
8.9
May
121.5
36.2
24.7
88
56
8.1
8.8
June
251.2
34.2
26.2
91
68
7.1
5.1
July
276.8
33.0
26.0
93
78
6.4
4.4
Aug
276.3
32.6
26.5
94
75
5.3
4.4
Sep
233.7
33.2
25.7
94
72
4.6
5.5
Oct
86.1
32.3
23.5
92
61
2.8
7.4
Nov
31.9
30.2
18.6
92
52
2.3
8.1
Dec
5.6
26.5
12.7
91
49
2.5
7.1
Total
1470.1
*10 Year Average
**5 Year Average
Source: All India Coordinated Research Project on Agro-meteorology.
Latitude: 22’57’N
Longitude: 88’20E
7
Altitude: 7.8 meters above mean sea level.
Clothing: Tropical (Cotton in summers and light woolens in winters).
Best Season: November to March.
Area:
The township is spread over an area which is all of 5720.54 acres of land and the land
use pattern has been evenly distributed with earmarked zones for commercial,
educational and industrial activities.
Population: 93,184. Male: 51%, Female: 49%.
Literacy Rate: 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male Literacy is
77%, and Female Literacy is 65%.
Handlooms & Handicrafts: Khadi, village pottery, agarbatti (incense), cane and
bamboo, carpentry, blacksmithy, clay dolls, conch shells, mats etc…
Rail Transport: Kalyani has four railway stations – Kalyani, Kalyani Silpanchal,
Kalyani Ghoshpara and Kalyani Simanta which connects Kalyani to Kolkata through
regular and efficient train service.
Road Transport: Kalyani is directly connected by road through the National
Highway 34. This Highway also connects North Bengal and the North-Eastern state
of Assam. It is also well connected to Kolkata through Kalyani Expressway.
Air Transport: Kalyani is about 50 Kms. away from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose Airport which is well connected with other cities in India and abroad.
Basic Amenities:
Health Care: There are two general hospitals – Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and ESI
Hospital. In addition to the two general hospitals there is also a T.B. Sanatorium and a
Heart hospital.
Postal and Telecommunication: Kalyani has a Post Office which provides efficient
services and the telephone exchanges are updated regularly with modern technology.
Electricity: Each house and establishment in Kalyani is well connected through the
100 Kms. long network of transmission links and substations.
8
Water Supply & Underground Sewerage: Kalyani has piped water supply through
a 170 Kms. long network and as far as sewerage system is concerned, a 190 Kms.
efficient underground sewerage system exists along the metal road. This underground
sewerage system makes the township one of the cleanest in India.
Eco – Watch Kalyani:
Kalyani has a rich biodiversity and some of the rarest species of flora and fauna are to
be found in this bewitching paradise. There are more than 40 species of migratory
birds in the marshy wetlands of Kalyani. For the discerning eco-tourists who yearn to
see nature in its pristine form and to understand the conservation realities of our time,
Kalyani offers a bewildering array of eco-tourism options.
A list of bird species found in Kalyani are mentioned below –
Aquatic Birds: Lesser WhistlingTeal, Dabchik, Cotton Teal, Blue Winged Teal,
Comb Duck, Pin Tail Duck, Coot, Indian Mor Hen, Purple Moor Hen, Night Heron,
Red Wattled Lapwing, Snipe, Pond Heron and Little Egret.
Parrots on Flight at Kalyani (Photo Courtesy: Pradip Dasgupta)
Kingfisher Group: Small Blue Kingfisher, White Breasted Kingfisher and Pied
Kingfisher.
Cormorant Group: Little Cormorant.
Terrestrial Group: Pied Myna, Common Myna, Jungle Myna, Tree Pie, Crow
Pheasant, Black Headed Oriole, Cooper Smith, Blue Throated Barbet, Mack Pie
9
Robin, Hawk Cock Ku, Pied Crested Cucko, Koel, Palm Swift, House Swift, Paria
Kite, Brahmani Kite, Jungle Crow, Vaya Weaver, Drongo, Hoope, Owl, Open Bill
Stalk, Bengal Vulture, Red Vented Bulbul, Ring Dove, Red Whisked Bulbul, Spotted
Dove, Bird of Paradise, Purple Sunbird and Bat.
Animal Species to be found in Kalyani and its surroundings – Squirrel, Langoor,
Different Species of Snakes, Jackals, Funambulus, Canis Aurens, Acatena Fulika,
Different Species of Toads, Civet, Oyster, Hemidactylus, Different Species of
Spiders, Leach, Calotes Versicolor, Different Species of Butter Flies and Moths.
A Squirrel in Playful Mood. (Photo Courtesy: Pradip Dasgupta)
10
Background of West Bengal’s Tourism Industry
The state of West Bengal is unique in terms of tourism, given the fact that it is the
only state in India, which has all the three vital ingredients – sea (The Bay of Bengal),
mountains (The Eastern Himalayas) and forest (The Sunderbans).
At the time of partition, Bengal was split into East Bengal and West Bengal. East
Bengal is now Bangladesh while West Bengal became a state of the Indian republic
with Kolkata as its capital. Geographically, the state is long and narrow, running from
the delta of the Ganges in the south to the mighty Himalayas with Darjeeling as the
“Queen of hill stations” nestled in the north.
During the British Raj, Bengal and more appropriately the city of Kolkata became the
political hub of India. Much of Kolkata and Bengal’s most enduring developments
took place between 1780 and 1820. Later in the 19th century, however, Bengal
became a spark point in India’s Independence Struggle and this was the principal
reason for the decision to transfer the capital to New Delhi in the year 1911. However,
the loss of political power did not alter Kolkata’s economic control and the city
continued to prosper until after the World War II. Kolkata is the largest city in India
and by now may be ahead of London as the largest city in the British Commonwealth.
Kolkata and much of Bengal is regarded as the cultural cauldron of India. The whole
world knows about the great “Bengal Renaissance” of the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries which started with Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1775-1833) and ended
with Noble Laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941).
As far as tourism in West Bengal is concerned, it is still a backbencher as compared to
the other Indian states that have marched way ahead of Bengal. In spite of having
places of sheer magic like the hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the lush
green tea gardens of Dooars in North Bengal, the coastal town of Digha, the nature’s
retreat Santiniketan, historical places like Murshidabad, Plassey, Nabadweep etc…
and the “City of Joy” – Kolkata itself, that lends an elegance to West Bengal which is
irresistible and hard to match with that of any other tourist destinations of India.
11
ITC The Sonar – A Landmark Hotel of Eastern India
The state’s fledgling tourism industry has got a shot in the arm with the dynamic and
visionary leadership of Miss Mamata Banerjee, the maverick Chief Minister of West
Bengal. There has been a precipitous change for the better as far as the fortunes of
West Bengal's tourism industry is concerned. Nothing exemplifies this change in
Bengal more than the presence of international hotel chains like one of India's finest
luxury hotels – the ITC Sonar Bangla, the Hyatt along with the avant-garde Vedic
Village resort.
Call for Action
In its drive to improve the state’s image as a preferred holiday destination, the
government of West Bengal has its task cut out. The government has to realize that
this sunrise industry that employs over 112 million people worldwide, making it by
far the largest industry in the world has to be given its due importance in the
government’s priority list, just the way the IT industry has been given the status of a
“High Priority” industry.
12
Not only has the sector grown at a remarkable pace in the past, but most tourism
experts expect that it will grow even more rapidly in the future, thereby resulting in
career opportunities and rewards to thousands of the state’s unemployed youths. This
is one industry, which is characterized by its dynamism, by the global scale on which
it operates and by the vast range of employment opportunities it offers.
The government’s tourism policy should be planned in a manner that it becomes a
unifying force, one that imparts direction and opportunity to the disgruntled youths. If
properly implemented, Tourism can play the role of a non-invasive instrument of
revitalization, conservation and growth. The watchword would be “Balanced Tourism
Development” that will ensure the type and scale of tourism development which is
compatible with the environment and social cultural milieu of the state.
In order to achieve the desired objectives, the structural organization of the tourism
set-up has to be further strengthened and toned up. Processes and procedures has to be
simplified along with the strengthening of the statistical machinery, reporting systems
and development of a comprehensive data base to quantify and evaluate the socioeconomic benefits derived from Tourism.
In view of the present global economic upheavals there has been a slow down in the
flow of foreign tourists and even the business travelers have curtailed their visits to
this part of the world. Dissecting the reasons for the slowdown of the economy is not
just an academic exercise, but might provide significant insights as to how to proceed
with a sustainable policy for Tourism development.
Amartya Sen’s Vision
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen has on many occasions highlighted the immense
economic viability of launching Eco-Tourism / Sustainable Tourism or more
appropriately “Responsible Tourism” in his home state of West Bengal, which
according to him, has the potential to ameliorate the sagging rural economy of not just
West Bengal but other states of India as well.
The success story of the southern Indian state of Kerala is a case in point. They have
not just implemented the visionary statement of Prof. Amartya Sen, but have even
gone that extra mile towards creating niche rural tourism products like Spice Tourism,
Agro Tourism, Ayurved Tourism, Monsoon Tourism etc…. which have been kind off
13
lapped up by the discerning international travelers who keep coming to “God’s Own
Country” due largely to the serene rural vistas along with highly cost effective rural
tourism packages.
The Idyllic Backwaters of India’s Southern State of Kerala
(Photo Courtesy: Kumarakom Lake Resort)
Needless to say, the state of West Bengal is land of stupendous dimensions and the
Bengali prayer for peace – “Shanti Path” is one of the most ancient prayers for peace
known to mankind and clearly reveals the inter-relationship of the environment and
the synergy for peace.
Much of West Bengal’s industrial and economic problems can be solved if the
mandarins of Writer’s Building listen to the clarion call of Nobel Laureate Amartya
Sen who have been giving a lot of stress on developing Tourism through local
community initiatives and NGOs who can act as useful vehicles for promoting
environmentally sensitive tourism.
14
Relevance of Introducing Tourism in Kalyani
Firstly, the township of Kalyani surprisingly is under populated and re-densification
of Kalyani is an important agenda with both the local and state government.
According to population experts, the growth rate of population in the township has
slowed down since 1981 and for the period 1991-2001 growth rate of population was
81,984, which was again below the expected growth rate.
According to population experts, Kalyani cannot sustain as a planned and developed
township unless some drastic re-densification measures are taken and it is here that
tourism can play a vital role. To sustain Kalyani as a developed township, a
population of 1, 25,000 by the year 2001 and 2, 20,000 by the year 2011, neither of
which was possible due to the slow growth rate of population. Thus, tourism is one of
the most viable alternative by which the desired population rate can be maintained.
In fact, the infrastructure system in Kalyani – electricity, roads, drainage, sewerage,
water supply etc… is sufficient to sustain the future population of 2, 25,000 as the
township was designed with this load factor in mind. Hence, Kalyani has a holding
capacity (in case of settlements) and carrying capacity (in case of tourism) of 2,25,000
and it can sustain this population without the need for major investments in land and
infrastructure developments.
Secondly, the “Multiplier Effect” for which the tourism industry is so well known
will definitely have a positive impact on the township’s economy. For instance, the
money paid by a tourist in paying his hotel bill will be used by the hotel’s
management to provide for the costs which it has incurred in meeting the demands of
the visitors e.g. such goods and services like food, drinks, furnishings, laundering,
electricity and entertainment. The recipients, in turn, use the money they have thus
received to meet their financial commitments and so on. In other words, tourist
expenditure not only supports tourist industry directly but also helps indirectly many
other industries which supply goods and services to the tourist industry. In this way
money paid by the tourist, after a long series of transfers over a given period of time,
passes through all sectors of the local economy, stimulating each in turn throughout
the process.
15
Thirdly, the tourism industry being one of the most labor intensive industries will
provide a valuable source of employment and it is a fact that Kalyani has a high rate
of unemployment. The tourism industry employs large number of people and provides
a wide range of jobs which extends from the unskilled to the highly specialized. In
addition to those involved in management, there are a large number of specialist
personnel required to work as accountants, housekeepers, waiters, cooks and
entertainers who in turn need large number of semiskilled workers as porters,
chamber maids, kitchen staff, gardeners etc… Besides direct employment, the tourist
industry also provides indirect employment outside the tourism industry. Such
indirect employment avenues include furnishing and equipment industries, souvenir
industries and farming and food supply.
Fourthly, tourism promotes handicraft and handloom products and it is generally
found that the prospective eco-tourist are generous towards indigenously designed
traditional products like jewellery, pottery, carpentry, bell metal works, weaving etc…
These sectors play an important role in economically uplifting the rural folks. Since
Kalyani has a large hinterland where people engage themselves in pottery, agarbatti
(incense stick), cane and bamboo, palmgurmaking, fibre, leather industry, carpentry,
blacksmithy and textiles, all of which will find a ready market at Kalyani.
Rustic Rural Charms of Kalyani’s Hinterland
16
Tourist’s generosity and charitable bent of mind towards local artisans is well known
the world over and Kalyani will be no exception. The handloom products of
Nabadweep and Shantipur, the Ranaghat weavers, clay dolls and images of Chakdha,
the conch shell makers of Balidanga, brass and metal works of Nabadweep,
Muragacha and Maithani will vie for attention as tourists start visiting Kalyani.
Last but not the least is Kalyani’s locational advantage in terms of the following
parameters –
(i)
Proximity to a large hinterland.
(ii)
Easy accessibility of educated and skilled manpower.
(iii)
Excellent infrastructure facilities, enough to support a population of
2,25,000 without any major investments.
(iv)
Accessibility to dream destinations of the North East like Assam,
Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
(v)
Accessibility to international markets through Kolkata airport (about 50
Kms) and Kolkata Port (about 65 Kms.).
17
Sustainable Tourism – What it Means!
Much of West Bengal’s industrial and economic problems can be solved if the
mandarins of Writer’s Building listen to the clarion call of Nobel Laureate - Amartya
Sen who has been giving a lot of stress on developing Tourism through local
community initiatives who can act as useful vehicles for promoting environmentally
sensitive tourism.
If the “Manila Declaration” is anything to go by in which it is precisely expressed
the need to spend free time profitably by engaging in cultural, physical, educational
and spiritual activities. Sustainable Tourism denotes the burning desire of modern day
travelers for an experience that has the effect of transformation and making them
processed human beings according to a preconceived plan of tourism components like
archaeology, ethnology, cave culture, fossil hunting, Yoga, transcendental meditation,
rural tourism and so on that the destination has to offer.
Today, India stands at the crossroad of modernization and industries crank out new
goods faster than people can buy them in ever-bigger shopping malls. Office workers
communicate instantaneously across continents through telephone, fax and E-mail.
All these advantages of course comes for a price: new kinds of health problems, many
caused by dirty air and water left behind by industries, the loss of parkland as
highways devour open space and sprawling desolate suburbs where neighbors are
strangers and the fear of crime isolates people behind locked doors.
The goal of Sustainable Tourism is to improve the quality of human life, enhance
human potential by providing goods and services that enable humans to meet that
potential, support local environment and culture and use environmentally sensitive
products and methods.
Sustainable tourism also signifies a supremely important “Contract with Nature” that
makes life on earth possible. Under the terms and conditions of this contract, we are
permitted to survive and evolve as long as we respect nature. The human species
heeded this contract for over three million years. But today, we are beginning to
transgress this contract with impunity since we have the power to alter environment.
But we have no capability to survive without clean air and water and being out of step
with its laws will mean termination of the contract.
18
Futuristic Tourism Development Avenues in Kalyani and the District
of Nadia
The overall tourism scenario in the state of West Bengal is dismal to say the least and
the Left Front government, which has been in power for the last 34 years have clearly
missed out on the tourism front. Kalyani and the district of Nadia today is a sad tale of
retarded growth.
All said and done, let us not keep bickering about what went wrong with West
Bengal’s tourism industry, vis-à-vis the district of Nadia and Kalyani township in
particular. Instead, let us consider a set of “Futuristic Tourism Development
Avenues” which if implemented in a planned manner, promises to usher in a second
Bengali renaissance, which is “Renaissance through Tourism” in Tagore’s land.
(1) Tourist Holiday Village at Kalyani
Being centrally located in the District of Nadia and proximity to places of tourist
interest like Nabadweep Dham, Mayapur, Krishnagar, Plassey (site of the famous
Battle of Plassey), the haunting wilderness of Bethuadari forest, Murshidabad etc…
an Eco-friendly Tourist Holiday village at Kalyani will indeed be very advantageous
for the discerning tourists who come to visit this fascinating district.
The proposed tourist village in Kalyani will essentially serve as a base from where the
discerning tourists will have the opportunity to explore the District of Nadia and
beyond.
The oblong shaped Kalyani Lake, which is all of 1.25 Kms. in length and its width is
0.4 Kms. on the northern side and widens to 0.6 Kms. to the south could be an ideal
place for building an eco-friendly Tourist Holiday Village. Already, the lake is well
connected by a mettaled road that connects the lake area to the city of Kolkata.
Designer eco-friendly products like floating hotels, houseboats, machans, bird
observatories etc…may be incorporated to heighten the touristy experience.
19
(2) Agro Tourism or Agriculture Tourism
The district of Nadia is primarily an agriculture driven district and a vast majority of
the population (70%) depend upon agriculture for earning their livelihood. The district
is self-reliant when it comes to food production. The land pattern though is
fragmented in most parts.
The days of hotel, sightseeing and back to the hotel are gone. These days tourists
demand real experiences during his /her holidays. The demand is for pleasant
surroundings, usually at reasonable rates which West Bengal does have in abundance.
Ethnic Cottages of Rural Bengal (Photo Courtesy: ABNC)
The essential ingredient of this new kind of tourism package is the organization of
recreation which alone can enrich the tourism experience by allowing greater
integration with the place visited and fuller involvement in the social and cultural life
of the rural destination.
A common place in a village is selected, particularly the land which is for common
use. This place will provide a podium for artisans, snake charmers and other rural
artists who solely depend on roadshows for their livlihood. Other places in the village
20
like the cultivated pond, vegetable and fruit gardens etc.. are impeccably preserved for
the visiting tourists.
The tourists on their arrival to the village are allowed to fish in the pond at a very
concessional rate. The gardens are open for the tourists so that they can “Pay, Eat and
Pluck” the vegetables and fruits. When this system is fully evolved, the middle man
who gets a major share of the income finds no place and the market is brought close
to the village.
It has to be borne in mind that the Village Tourism which would be developed will
not at all be a simulated one. The configuration of the village which has the set-up
according to the caste and class would be explicitly exhibited. The city residents who
have not seen the authentic village life would get a glimpse of the village life without
paying the charges which the travel agents sell.
(3) Fishing & Angling Tours
The district of Nadia is crisscrossed by rivulets and wetland bodies The Bengali and
his fish are inseparable and a variety of fishes are reared. Historically, the boatmen of
Bengal are a unique lot. Their slow, uncluttered and philosophical outlook on life has
been a rich literary source of Bengali folklore. A lot of films too have been produced
depicting the strange lifestyle of Bengal’s boatmen / Fishermen.
The local government (Kalyani Municipality) first needs to identify a bunch of fishing
villages for accelerated tourism development. The pivotal idea is to construct rural
fishermen’s huts made of straw and bamboo alongside the water bodies so as to
provide shelter to the tourists. Their unique folk songs and traditions can be
showcased in the central podium of the fishing village. For the diehard fishing and
angling enthusiasts, leisurely boat rides on the water bodies may be encouraged and
permission may be granted for fishing in the waters, which will come at a price.
Fishing equipments may be rented out to the tourists as well to heighten the touristy
experience.
(4) Introducing Horse Cart Rides:
These days, horse driven carriages are indeed a novelty. Being the hub of British
India, horse driven carriages were introduced in a phased manner by the British East
India Company in Kolkata and many other parts of West Bengal.
21
If one delves into the history of horse driven carriages, they were in vogue even
during the Mughal era and came in different shapes and sizes. In the 17th and 18th
centuries, not only were these carriages the primary mode of transportation, they were
also extensively used by the members of the erstwhile royal families. The carriages
then were fine pieces of craftsmanship. It is such a pity that today in the guise of
modernity,
we
have
to
axe
these
wonderful
eco-friendly
vehicles.
Horse Driven Carriages – A Unique Way of Exploring Kalyani and its
Neighborhood (Photo: Google Image)
This concept can be profitably launched in Kalyani and in other places of tourist
interest in the district of Nadia. The prospect of riding through intriguing by lanes,
which has history written all over and the exotic Bengal countryside, can be a heady
feeling for the uninitiated.
Exclusive Horse Riding Retreats may be introduced in places with a colonial past like
for instance Kalyani, Murshidabad, Plassey, Krishnagar etc…. which were intimately
connected with the British Raj as well as the Mughals. The introduction of exclusive
Horse Riding Retreats in the above mentioned places would not only usher in an
innovative tourism experience, it would also be a wonderful way of reviving the past
glory of Bengal.
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The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal along with the local
Municipal bodies like the Kalyani Municipality, may first identify the sites suitable
for rural Horse Riding Retreats and then come up with a comprehensive tourism
development plan.
(5) Tree House Tourism:
Tree house recreation has of late made its mark as a much sought after alternative
form of recreation. This concept has become hugely popular in the state of Kerala and
some parts of Rajasthan.
Tree House Recreation – An Innovative Eco-Friendly Tourism Product
(Photo: Google Image)
Even a decade back, tree houses used to be kid stuff, but not anymore as more adults
are building houses in trees to get high. The joy of being tucked up in a remote
arboreal hideaway is the stuff that dreams are made of and they have even been the
subjects of best-selling books and popular exhibitions.
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Apart from Kalyani, the ideal location for introducing Tree House Tourism would be
the lush green Bethuadhari Reserve Forest in the district of Nadia, which is a pleasant
place to relax in the midst of tropical forest cover, chirping of the birds and a few
species of fauna like Spotted Deers, Pythons, Monitor Lizards and Turtles.
The fact that the National Highway passes right next to the Bethuadari Reserve Forest
and being easily accessible from Kolkata, this wildlife sanctuary has always been an
enigma for many weekend tourists.
(6) Colonial Tourism in Kalyani
The Government of West Bengal would do well to declare Kalyani as a colonial
tourist destination, given the fact that Kalyani used to be an American Military Base
during World War II and was referred to as “Roosevelt Nagar”, after the then
President of USA – Franklin Roosevelt. Also, now that the Indo-US joint military
initiatives are at an all time high, both the Indian army and its counterparts in USA
would do well to co-operate in shaping up Kalyani as a much-preferred colonial
tourist destination.
A few possible touristy landmarks for Kalyani are mentioned below:
(i)
Setting up a War Memorial Center in Kalyani with photographs and
pictures of World War II. Pictorial representation of India’s struggle for
Independence.
(ii)
Photographs, write-ups and audiovisuals etc…. depicting the Indo-US
military exchanges till the present time.
(iii)
Develop Kalyani Lake, which is 1.25 Kms. long into a state of the art Lake
Retreat with luxurious accommodation units, convention center, musical
fountain and all the modern paraphernalia expected of a super deluxe
retreat.
(iv)
Develop the Picnic Garden into a world class Botanical Garden with
exclusive garden villas for up market tourists.
(7) Declare the District of Nadia as a Spiritual Tourist Destination:
As far as the question of spirituality is concerned, it would perhaps be apt to state that
the district of Nadia has a great spiritual past and that great spiritual heritage and
tradition of thousands of years is still alive. In fact, Nabadweep Dham, a small town
of Nadia district happens to be the birthplace of one of India’s greatest spiritual
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personality – Sri Chaitainya Mahaprabhu who is regarded as the avatara of Lord
Krishna in this age whose mission it was to teach love of god through chanting his
holy name.
Also, in the district of Nadia is Mayapur, where the headquarters of the world famous
International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is located. The HareKrishna movement made so popular and acceptable in the modern era by one of the
world’s most outstanding spiritual teachers - His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Srila Prabhupada has its magnificent headquarters at Mayapur, which is just
3.5 hours drive from Calcutta.
ISKCON Temple at Mayapur (Photo Courtesy: Mayapur Tourism)
ISKCON in particular has mega tourism plans for Mayapur and Nabadweep Dham
and the government can effectively play the role of a catalyst.
(8) Bengali Fairs & Festivals to be Promoted Aggressively:
West Bengal is a land of festivals and fairs. Be it the Gangasagar Mela, the Poush
Mela of Santineketan or the 300 years old Sati Ma’s Mela at Kalyani, West Bengal is
never short of fairs and festivals. The Fairs and festivals of Bengal are unique and
one-of-a-kind to be found nowhere else on earth.
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The Indian state of Rajasthan has shown how by proper marketing and planned
infrastructure developments, fairs and festivals can win the admiration of the world’s
tourism fraternity. The world famous Pushkar Fair as well as the Jaisalmer Desert
Festival are today ranked amongst the world’s most colorful fairs.
The Annual Hare Krishna Festival (Photo Courtesy: Mayapur Tourism)
The 400-year-old Satima’s Fair at Kalyani, which is held annually transforms Kalyani
into a fairy tale land with thousands of Sati Ma’s devotees who converge into her
sacred estate and make merry with intoxicating Baul music and a plethora of ethnic
entertainment. Kalyani Municipality would do well to seek the support and coperation of the Ministry of Tourism for better management of the Sati Ma’s fair,
which has the potential to become the Indian version of “Mardi Grass”.
(9) Son et lumiere on Nadia’s Spiritual Heritage:
The renaissance period after the infamous 1857 rebellion against the British rule saw
a spontaneous outburst of Bengali art and literature. It was during this period that the
great spiritual giant Sri Ramakrishna made his appearance and it was left to Swami
Vivekananda – the cyclonic monk of Bengal to spread the tentacles of Vedanta to the
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world community. This period also saw the emergence of great souls like Nobel
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Rishi Aurobindoo and others of their ilk.
It is high time the government comes up with a state-of-the-art “Son et lumiere” on
the great Bengal Renaissance which may be showcased for the entertainment of the
discerning international travelers. There are still many facts that the rest of the world
doesn’t know about the Bengal Renaissance, which may be unraveled to the new age
traveler to Bengal.
Nadia being the birth place of the great spiritual giant Sri Chaitainya Mahaprabhu is
also much revered by ISKCON devotees because one the modern world’s most
renowned religious ambassadors – Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON had an
intimate spiritual attachment for Nabadweep Dham in particular, and it would be in
the fitness of things that a 'Son et lumiere' be produced, which highlights the spiritual
greatness of the district of Nadia.
Devotees of ISKCON in a Frenzied Spiritual Mood at Mayapur
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(10) Bengali Wedding Tours:
A Bengali marriage is always very special. It is high on drama, there is great pomp
and merrymaking and the food is lip-smacking good. One has all the ingredients of a
soap opera. The Municipalities and village panchayats may be given a grant to build
community halls and the residents of the concerned town or village may be
encouraged to hold marriage ceremonies at these community halls.
A Traditional Indian Wedding Ceremony (Photo Courtesy: ISKCON)
(11) Craft Bazaar in Kalyani:
The district of Nadia is a virtual treasure house of Bengali art and crafts. This region
has encouraged people to carry on the century’s old traditional way of earning ones
livelihood like jewellery, carpentry, blacksmithy etc…and this district has set a great
example of keeping one’s traditions alive even in the face of urbanization and cut
throat consumerism.
As there is no dearth of wide open spaces in Kalyani, the concept of a Craft Bazaar is
an innovative idea and this kind of congregation of the local artisans in a common
28
market place will serve in the best interest of the local village folks who can earn their
livelihood by selling their products.
A nominal rate will be charged from each artisan, which will be ultimately utilized for
the further development of the Craft Bazaar and also for the day to day maintenance.
The Bazaar will be so designed that it blends harmoniously with the local
environment and is eco-friendly. Small huts will be allocated to each local
entrepreneur for a maximum of two weeks after which the next in line will be given a
chance to set up his stall.
Apart from stalls allotted to the artisan community, food plazas too can be constructed
with the help of eco-friendly materials and food may be served to visitors in
environmentally safe, disposable earthen cups and leaf plates, basketry and coconut
shells. A minimal built up area with a food plaza centre and plenty of open space can
serve as a venue for different types of food festivals. Open air theatre will be a very
important feature at the proposed Craft Bazaar. Spectacular glimpses of the vast
storehouse of Bengal’s culture ranging from Rabindra Sangeet to the intoxicating
Ethnic Dancers Performing at Dilli Haat (Photo Courtesy: Dilli Haat)
29
Baul music may be conducted. Apart from portraying the unique Bengali culture and
folklore, the Kalyani Craft Bazzar can also offer a Pan-Indian cultural experience in a
microcosm where folk dancers of other states of India can showcase their unique
dance forms ranging from the graceful Bharatnatyam to the vigorous Bhangra.
(12) Japanese Garden
Given Kalyani’s verdant greenery and vast open spaces, a Japanese Garden will bring
about a magnificent contrast to the landscape. The characteristic feature of Japanese
Garden is the unmistakable influence of Buddhism. The garden is intended as a place
for quiet reflection and this intention is based on a religious philosophical demand. To
achieve this impression of quietness, all brilliant colors are renounced and preference
is given to the various kinds of predominantly green plants so that a uniform color is
attained.
Most Japanese Gardens are monochrome, whereas the European Gardens are
polychrome. In a monochrome garden flowers are of course almost entirely absent
while European gardens bear bright colors.
However, despite the differences in form and style, a good Japanese garden invariably
reveals three fundamental characteristics – naturalism, asymmetry and a drawing
together of natural and architectural forms into a unified harmonious composition. It
is a work of art built on a human scale and naturalistic in content but subjective in
spirit.
Although the special quality of the Japanese landscape is naturally also reflected in
the garden, one of the most striking elements in this landscape is water and stone
arrangements. Water fulfills the special function in the garden of making more
tolerable the heat of the Japanese summer.
Prof. Mori was invited to India in the year 1958 as an expert Japanese Landscape
Architect under the scheme of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. A
portion of the Roshanara garden was developed as a Japanese garden. The Roshanara
garden belongs to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Some other small gardens or
portions of Japanese style were developed at 1 Safdarjung Road, Qudsia garden and in
30
other parts of India. An important addition of Japanese garden in India could be
Kalyani.
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Benefits of Sustainable Approach to Tourism in Kalyani
Tourists worldwide demand higher quality products, services and real life experiences
during their holidays and while they do not necessarily seek luxury, they do crave for
pleasant surroundings usually at a reasonable price. The essential ingredient of this
new type of tourism package is not transport and accommodation but the organization
of recreation, which alone can enrich the tourism experience by allowing greater
integration with the holiday destination in the form of quality products, excellence in
service (human relations), fully involve all the citizens in tourism and obtain the
maximum yield from it to benefit the country, its people, business partners and
visitors. Though the idea sounds very simple, it is in fact a lot complex to make it
practically viable at the grassroots level.
A lot of research and meticulous planning is required. Not only that, the entire
marketing strategy as well as professionals engaged in marketing Value Based
Tourism products need to be perfectly oriented and trained since herein they do not
necessarily sell features but the actual benefits accrued from the tourism phenomenon.
Benefits of Sustainable Tourism
A list of benefits that would accrue from Sustainable Tourism in Kalyani and the
district of Nadia are mentioned below:
(1) The greatest benefit from Sustainable and Value Based Tourism in Kalyani and
the district of Nadia would be the local residents, the common man on the street and
particularly the youths on whom the future of West Bengal’s Tourism lies. Innovative
Sustainable Tourism products like Village Treks, Ethnological Tours, Flora & Fauna
Tours or for that matter Wet Land Bird Watching Tours means that the best people to
don the mantle of Sustainable Tourism professionals would be the indigenous local
people themselves. Since they are the people who know their surroundings,
recruitment would take place from amongst the local populace, which would go a
long way in redressing the acute unemployment problems that the youths of Nadia
district are faced with today.
32
(2) West Bengal’s share in the Indian tourism market in terms of revenue earnings
could increase substantially since Value Based Tourism products are experience
oriented and the duration of visit is definitely longer than run-of-the-mill packages.
For example, the soothing effect of Yoga cannot be realized by a mere one session of
activity. It has to go on at least for a week and it is only then that the person starts
experiencing the benefits. Thus, Value Based Tourism would make visitors to extend
their stay in West Bengal, which means more visitor spending and more hard currency
earned by the state.
(3) Through Sustainable & Value Based Tourism, the National Parks, Conservation
and Wetland areas can be brought under the ambit of tourism by including the local
people to take part in the tourism phenomenon. Such areas provide a unique setting
where natural resources like the flora and fauna are best utilized for recreational
purposes without any damages to the environment with the corresponding revenues
earned through tourism being re-spent on National Parks and conservation area
management.
(4) Another benefit of Sustainable Tourism is the fact that this kind of tourism
generally attract persons who are tolerant and even interested in experiencing small
scale local or vernacular accommodation (Santhal tribal settlement for example) that
are built of indigenous materials, thus keeping the ecological and cultural balance of
the region intact.
(5) Eco-Tourism and Green Tourism does figure prominently in the World Tourism
Organization, UNDP and PATA’s priority list of agendas and they are committed
towards developing such concepts through monetary benefits, research, planning,
training and orientation which Kalyani and the District of Nadia could exploit for the
furtherance of Sustainable and Value Based Tourism.
(6) Last but not the least, there will be better awareness of West Bengal as a
destination for the discerning international traveler.
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Foreign Investment in West Bengal’s Sustainable Tourism
Landscape
Since Sustainable Tourism has emerged as one of the most dynamic and viable option
for the state of West Bengal and with a pro-active government that is hell-bent on
repositioning the state as a frontrunner in the country’s Tourism landscape, it is
imperative to create the necessary environment and infrastructure to strengthen the
state’s Tourism industry.
It is a well known fact that West Bengal doesn’t have the resources to do it all on its
own, since the challenges faced by it are enormous and in terms of the overall
economic condition, the state is amongst the poorest in India. Hence, Foreign
Investment holds the key to sustaining Tourism in West Bengal in the foreseeable
future.
Till date foreign aid has played an important role in India’s development process, but
it has to be admitted that foreign aid alone is not enough. There has to be a realization
that foreign aid has to be replaced by foreign investment for promoting and sustaining
Tourism in a backward state like West Bengal.
Though, West Bengal, of late, has been reiterating at each and every available
international forum that the possibility of exploring numerous hardcore collaborative
ventures would be pivotal in the overall development of the state, not much headway
has been made in real terms and the state’s dithering Tourism industry too has
remained bereft of any large-scale developments. The onus now lies on the sincerity
and seriousness of both the public as well as the private sector Tourism players.
It may be mentioned that the state of West Bengal has already been projected as an
economically vibrant state and the capital city of Kolkata being the gateway city to
the whole of East and North Eastern states of India in itself holds a lot of relevance
towards making Tourism more viable in West Bengal.
However, it is necessary to stress that Foreign Investment and collaborations are not
to be viewed as encroachments upon the sovereignty of the state but perfectly in
accordance with the principles of International Law.
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Being a developing state, West Bengal faces the problem of resource crunch and thus
it is pertinent to have foreign investment and collaborative ventures in the field of
Tourism with friendly nations and international organizations in order to provide a
boost to the sagging Tourism industry of the state. A joint concerted effort is much
more advantageous and fruitful than the efforts and measures adopted by an
individual state. Also, one has to take into consideration that the world has become
very competitive and development has gone to such an extent that it is impossible to
remain isolated anymore.
35
Role of Public Relations in the Promotion of West Bengal’s
Tourism Industry
The need of the hour is to formulate a well thought out Public Relations or PR
drive in order to actually make the prospective foreign investors believe in the true
intentions of the state’s Tourism mandarins. Needless to say, the element of
credibility and transparency has to be the watchword if West Bengal’s Tourism
industry is to attract the attention of global investors in shaping its Sustainable
Tourism industry.
A list of positive PR messages for West Bengal’s Sustainable Tourism campaign
are highlighted below, which could send the right signals to the prospective global
investors –
(i)
A stable political climate
(ii)
Positive government attitude
(iii)
Liberal foreign investment policies
(iv)
Single window service to foreign investors
(v)
Low establishment cost
(vi)
Abundant source of labor at competitive wages
(vii)
Very attractive incentives
(viii)
Warm and friendly people.
Besides the above-mentioned PR aspects for luring foreign investors in West
Bengal’s Tourism industry, there are certain other positive PR messages too,
which needs to be consistently highlighted at the International Investment Forums,
particularly on the fiscal side where the state’s tax rate is considered to be one of
the lowest in the country.
Also, it would perhaps be prudent to also usher positive changes in the
bureaucratic system, delicensing and the increasing trend towards privatization in
the government’s Tourism policy.
West Bengal’s friendly attitude towards foreign investors should be made more
transparent. The setting up of an exclusive – “Foreign Investment Promotion
36
Section” under the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal would
indeed be a step in the right direction. This exclusive Investment Promotion unit
may be bestowed with a high degree of functional powers and independent
identity. Since the stakes are going to be high, an attractive image of the state is of
tremendous value, more so in the Tourism sector where visibility, transparency
and effective communication often holds the key to clinch deals. Unless an
efficient PR network is in place, it could be a case of just another wasted
opportunity for West Bengal.
PR has to be given its due recognition as far as maintaining a stimulating
investment environment is concerned. By constantly monitoring West Bengal’s
Tourism image in the national and international media, the PR professionals
would be in a better position to track trends and anticipate events of importance to
West Bengal’s Tourism industry.
Since the domain of foreign investment is international in nature and foreign
investors and investment agencies from abroad are subject to investigations by
national and international “Watchdogs”, all legal and political aspects of
investment will have to be brought to the notice of foreign investors and agencies
from abroad on the part of West Bengal’s Tourism industry.
Travel Writers as PR Agents:
The mandarins of West Bengal’s Tourism industry would do well to invite renowned
Travel Writers to visit the state as part of FAM tours. This is one of the most effective
ways of securing publicity, literally free of cost. However, Travel Writers from
financially sound major newspapers and Travel publications do not accept
government hospitality. So, it is expected of the private sector players like hotels &
resorts, travel agents and tour operators to take this initiative of inviting Travel
Writers to come on FAM tours to West Bengal.
A Niche Marketing Strategy:
In a recent AFTA Convention, Claude Sarbello, an internationally acclaimed Tourism
consultant had remarked thus – “The Baby Bloomers, the people born in between
37
1946 and 1956 would retire at the age of 62 and would have the largest impact on the
tourism industry between 2008 and 2017”.
Sarbello was speaking of western societies. The Asian society, however, has already
reached this stage. Thus, India being a favorite haunt of the discerning global traveler
since they are the largest visitors to the Indian subcontinent and the fact that the
western nations are already well inclined towards India as their preferred destination,
the future of West Bengal’s tourism industry viz-a-viz Sustainable Tourism lies with
the 45 plus and 65 plus age group visitors on a long term basis.
The incentives to tackle the market are many. They are easily accessible; they have
seen the world; they have brought up children and put them on their feet and what is
more they don’t have an unrealistic level of TV – hyped expectations. They know
what they want; they know how much they can afford to pay and their time is their
own. They are not likely to cancel their bookings at the last minute because their
bosses summon them; they are their own bosses. And they are not likely to get sick
since they have handled their own health problems successfully for a long time.
In South Asia and in the western world, millions of uncounted people join the ranks of
senior citizens every year. Thus, West Bengal has a great opportunity to target this
lucrative market because of the fact that it is the people in this category who would
best appreciate the concept of Sustainable Tourism.
Whether or not West Bengal reaches out towards this burgeoning market remains to
be seen.
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Conclusion
It is true that there are problems galore when it comes to developing the Tourism
industry in a state like West Bengal. What is heartening though is that there seems to
be awareness in the minds of the people as well as of the government of West Bengal
that everyone has to unite together, whether he or she is a sage or an ordinary person.
With the people’s power and the power of grassroots institutions, the deteriorating
tourism standards can be arrested and improved upon. Apart from the government,
NGOs and International organizations also have to share the responsibility and help
and guide the local citizenry in developing a sound and sustainable tourism platform
for West Bengal.
One of the key areas in terms of tourism development in West Bengal is creation of a
more appropriate form of tourism to replace “Mass Tourism”. Appropriate Tourism is
a kind of tourism that is more favorable and beneficial to the local community and the
challenge ahead for West Bengal’s tourism industry is to implement and establish
Appropriate Tourism at the ground level.
The future relationship between tourism and environment is going to be the key issue
for West Bengal’s tourism industry as it will be for the rest of India and the world.
Being sensitive towards environment in our pursuit of pleasure in the hills and dales,
beaches, grassland and fragile areas would be the wise thing to do.
THE END
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