West Bengal government would be soon setting up an Eco-Tourism Board to develop and promote the state as an attractive eco-tourism destination. Speaking to Financial Express Online, Bratya Basu, state tourism minister said, “The state government will soon set up an Eco-Tourism Board to develop the state as an eco-tourism destination and promote it as an attractive investment destination for this sector. Mamata Banerjee, the state chief minister, will be heading this Eco-Tourism Board and other members of the board will be appointed by her.”

Sources indicate that the proposed board will comprise of professionals, senior government officials of different departments and experts on environment. According to a senior official of the tourism department, chief minister Banerjee had earlier instructed the state tourism department officials to start work on the process of setting up this board. On her instructions, a task force was formed comprising of professional consultants and senior government officials to work on the process. “The task-force has recommended for setting up of this board,” Basu added.

A senior tourism department official said that plans are afoot to set up eco-tourism hubs in different parts of the state. The State Tourism Department is working on setting up a major eco-tourism hub in the Dooars in North Bengal besides setting up the mega-tourism hub at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district. It has invested huge amount in creating world-class tourism infrastructure at Gajoldoba and has already floated a global tender inviting investment proposals from private parties. The department plans to set up several tourism related projects like luxury and budget hotels, amusement and recreational facilities at Gajoldoba on public-private-partnership (PPP) mode. The official said that nearly 250 acres of land has already been identified by the state government to build the mega tourism hub at Gajoldoba.

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