Published on: May 24, 2022 @ 13:13
Reporter: Aniruddha Pal
SPT News, Kolkata, 24 May: Apart from promoting tourism in Bengal, the West Bengal government has also taken major initiatives to launch direct flights from Kolkata. Harikrishna Dwivedi, the state’s chief secretary, recently held a meeting with representatives of the Kolkata Airport Authority, officials of almost all the airlines and travel agents’ associations in the country. State Finance Secretary Manoj Panth was present there. This meeting has been very fruitful. It is believed that West Bengal is going to show a new direction in tourism in the next few months.
Those who were present at the meeting
The director and manager of Kolkata Airport, among others, were present at that day’s meeting. Also present were almost all the airlines, such as Air India, Indigo, SpiceJet, Go-Air and many more. Anil Punjabi, chairman of the Travel Agents Federation of India or TAFI (East India) and Manab Soni, chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India or TAAI East India were also invited to the meeting.
The main topics of discussion during the day were two- 1) Direct flight services and 2) Promotion of tourism in Bengal. To make this discussion fruitful, Chief Secretary of the State Harikrishna Dwivedi invited partners involved in tourism and travel. Officials from all walks of life agreed with the state in that day’s discussion. The state government wants their cooperation. If they come forward to make this initiative of the state successful, then Bengal will also come forward in this case.
Direct flight service
The state government has taken special initiative to launch direct flight service from Kolkata. Chief Secretary of the state Harikrishna Dwivedi on the occasion informed the executives of various airlines including the Kolkata Airport Authority to take a positive stance on launching direct flights from Kolkata this time. Earlier, direct flights were launched from Kolkata to maintain connectivity with multiple countries. But later those airlines were shut down. However, Chief Secretary Harikrishna Dwivedi requested the airline officials to gradually re-launch them.
Anil Punjabi, chairman of TAFI’s East India, said the issue was discussed at today’s meeting. In order to start direct flight service from Kolkata as before. Talks have been held with Air India to launch flights to Europe before Pujo. They also said that they will take appropriate action in this regard. However, as the flight is in the morning, it is difficult for people from several states in eastern India to catch it. So if this flight service is done at night then people from Guwahati or any other state will not have any difficulty in coming to Kolkata and catch the flight. The Air India authorities have also promised to do the same.
Promoting tourism in Bengal
Bengal tourism is the best in the whole country. Only due to lack of planning, tourism has not spread here so far. State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself has taken action to make it happen now. He wants West Bengal tourism to be open to the world. And so the Chief Secretary of the state invited all those partners with Tourism on this day and had an important meeting with them. In this kingdom there are mountains on one side and sea on the other. There is jungle. There are the best delta islands in the world like the Sundarbans. There are religious places. The state government has planned to highlight all these places. That’s why all the travel agents’ organizations are called to the side.
Anil Punjabi of Taffy said, “It was a very fruitful meeting that day. The state government has made a very good effort. They want tourism in Bengal to become the best. We have many opportunities here. There are many possibilities for tourism. There are many new places. We are attracted to Bengal not only in the country but also abroad. That is why the Chief Secretary said to organize road shows on Bengal tourism in various countries of Asia. So that it will be possible to expand tourism in Bengal.
Taskforce to make tourism beautiful and convenient
The biggest decision of the day’s meeting was the decision to form a task force to promote tourism in Bengal. Anil Punjabi said that it was also decided to form a task force on tourism on that day. Chief Secretary Harikrishna Dwivedi has asked the travel agents’ organizations to come forward in this regard. It has been suggested to form this task force with four to five people. Their job will be to take the tourism of Bengal forward. This task force will look at everything related to tourism. In addition to tourism, the task force will be tasked with overseeing flight services at state airports. The government of West Bengal is going to bring a complete tourism system so that more and more direct flights will be launched from Kolkata airport in the future.
Published on: May 24, 2022 @ 13:13
