In an effort to tap the net-savvy tourists, West Bengal Tourism has launched a new website that will enable Netizens to book online any of its 27 lodges and 22 bungalows run by the State Forest Department. Booking for the lodges and the bungalows can now be done from the newly-launched http://www.wbtourism.gov.in and http://www.wbtdc.gov.in, using various online payment options.
?Tourists can now also book forest departments’ bungalows through this website?, Bratya Basu, the state tourism minister said after launching the new website.
Basu said the tourism department has also spoken to the home department for deploying a special police team at several tourist locations in the state to ensure the safety and security of the visiting tourists.
Elaborating on the plans of the department for the ensuing Durga Puja, Basu said that the tourism department will arrange package tours this year for Durga Puja pandal hoppers, who could visit several pandals of Kolkata and the outskirts. Specially decked up air-conditioned buses will take the revelers around the city from the day of Mahalaya to Nabami and the lunch will be served at one of the renowned family-run pujas in North Kolkata.
?The State Tourism Department is also planning to set up a tourist hub in Junglemahal in West Midnapore district of the state,? the minister said, ?Several places of Junglemahal are very attractive and could attract tourists and a ‘tourist hub’ will also create employment opportunities for the local people?. The Tourism Department is also exploring the idea of starting ‘home-stays’ in Junglemahal. Such home stays and village stays are already popular in North Bengal and the state has taken initiatives to promote it successfully.
