February 8, 2009

Central government neglecting tourism in West Bengal: Minister

KOLKATA: State Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee Friday alleged that the central government is promoting and marketing many tourist destinations but neglecting West Bengal.”The central government is always promoting and marketing Delhi, Agra and Goa as tourist destinations. But West Bengal is always neglected whereas the state capital Kolkata can be called as the eastern gateway of India,” Mukherjee said at a conference on eastern tourism organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

Mukherjee said all special tourism benefits are introduced in other states by the central government.

“The central government introduces all special benefits in other states. For example, there is a special train running between Delhi and Bodhgaya. But not Kolkata. As far as I know, it’s people from South East Asia who majorly visit Bodhgaya. So why not a special train from Kolkata, which is nearer to Bangkok and Indonesia, than Delhi?” Mukherjee said.

“Despite no encouragement from the central government, hundreds of foreigners visit West Bengal every year. And if the centre helps, then this state can become one of the major revenue earners in tourism sector,” Mukherjee said.

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