The Hindu Business Line : Bid to package Durga Puja as tourism event

AN effort to package the Durga Puja festival of West Bengal and sell it as an event to the overseas tourist is being planned by the Union Tourism Ministry.

The concept has been launched by `Happenings' — a small group of city-based professionals — who feel that the festival could be a very good occasion to showcase the city's splendour during the four-day period of the Pujas as well as its arts and crafts and culture.

Mr A.V. Iyengar of Happenings said that while the idea was tested out last year when 30 people were brought to the city on this occasion, it was proposed to be launched in a bigger way this year .

While corporates have shown eagerness to sponsor some of their clients as well their staff to the event, a presentation has also been made at Baltimore on the occasion of the North American Bengali Conference. "Non-resident Bengalis have shown eagerness to send their children to be here during the Durga Pujas so as to experience the flavour of the land of their origin," he said.

The city's top hotels - Oberoi Grand and ITC Sonar Bangla - have agreed to be partners in this project while Indian Airlines and Air India have also agreed to promote it and publicise the event through posters and films on their inbound flights, Mr Iyengar said. "If Mardi Gras and Munich Beer Festival can attract tourists, there is no reason why Durga Puja cannot do so with some planning and coordination," he remarked.

The tourists would be taken around some of the 3,000 pandals that come up during the four-day extravaganza.

The product has been priced at $750 per head for overseas visitors and at Rs 27,000 for their domestic counterparts.

Ms Alka Kohli, Regional Director (East), Indiatourism said that a group of foreign journalists would also be brought during the event. She expected the initiative to pay off by boosting the flow of foreign tourist to eastern India. Tourist arrival at the city airport stood at 68,186 in 2003 calendar against 61,429 in 2002.

More Stories on : Tourism | Other States

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page