In an effort to attract tourists, during the Durga Puja, the West Bengal state tourism department will recruit tourist police on a temporary basis to guide the visitors.

The state tourism department is poised to hard-sell the Pujas to international and domestic tourists by show casing puja. For that they are going to recruit tourist police temporarily to guide tourists during the pujas and they will be given short training on how to guide the tourists.

Tourism minister Rachpal Singh and urban development minister Firhad Hakim held a meeting with tour operators and luxury taxi operators on Wednesday to ensure a hassle-free Pujas for tourists. Besides conducting special river cruises for tourists, the state is also planning to tie up with Belur Math so that tourists can catch a glimpse of the Kumari puja as per a report in TOI.

For those who want more information on the pujas, a call centre and help desks at the railway stations and the airport will be set up to offer all possible help. Singh said, "We are trying to make Durga Puja the most happening event and increase footfall of tourists to the extent of 100%." A diary highlighting the best pujas of the city will also be given to tourists as mementos, Singh said.

Vikram Sen, tourism secretary, said, that they also have plans to take the tourists to the districts and for that they are chalking out some tourist destinations. "We have plans to take the tourists to some old zamindari houses in the districts where pujas are held."

The state transport department will also conduct special river cruises for the tourists. The boats will travel to places like Belur and Dakshineswar. The state government is in the process of arranging a tie up with Belur Mutt so that the tourists can observe the Kumari Puja.

The tourism minister said that they will provide special badges to the buses and cars that will carry tourists to the puja pandals. "There will be tourist sticker on the vehicles ferrying the tourists, so that these vehicles can easily reach the pandals during the crowded hours. Even Singh said that the tourism department will tie up with a call centre so that tourists can easily get all information. There will be help desks for tourists at Sealdah and Howrah stations and even at the city airport.

Singh said, "We are trying to make Durga Puja the most happening event and increase footfall of tourists to the extent of 100% and for that we have already staged road shows and more such are being planned in Delhi, Mumbai and Surat. Our recent road show at Bengaluru was a major success."

He said that already a group of 45 tourists from Canada had already booked a five star hotel to go for pandal hopping. Singh said that the local people also can avail the facilities offered by the tourism department.

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