Bengal to skip ITB Berlin tourism fair

Kolkata, March 4: The West Bengal tourism department which spent Rs 1.3 crores out of its total publicity budget of Rs 2.8 crores for participating in the Surajkund fair in Haryana is not taking part in ITB Berlin 2008, schedule to be held between March 5 to 9. Last year, the state government had participated in ITB Berlin, the largest travel and tourism fair in the world.

Confirming this, state tourism secretary Bijoy Chatterjee said, "We are not participating in ITB Berlin this year." He expressed satisfaction with the response the state tourism department received in the Surajkund fair.Sources said, state finance minister Dr Asim Dasgupta voiced his objections over the tourism department’s decision to participate in the Surajkund fair.

"At first he had even refused to sanction Rs 1.3 crores for participating in the fair, pointing out that the amount was almost half of the publicity budget. He, however, later relented following chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s intervention," one of the sources said.

The West Bengal government’s decision to skip ITB Berlin has been criticised by the state tourism industry. Aloke Chowdhury, secretary general, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI), said, "Though the state tourism sector has not improved much, I feel participating in ITB Berlin would have helped in showcasing the state as an ideal tourist destination."

Chief executive, Sunderban Tiger Camp (STC) Dr Uday Sankar Roy said that West Bengal would definitely miss a golden opportunity. "The state tourism department did not participate in the London tourism fair and now it has decided to skip the event in Berlin. I do not know how Sunderbans will be showcased as an attractive tourism destination before the global tourists?" he said.