State hoteliers extend solidarity

The Conglomerate of Bengal Hotel Owners, which is the apex body of hotel proprietors in West Bengal, has decided to stand by the hotels in the Darjeeling Hills that face the apprehension of another wasted tourist season, the last washed out by the ongoing political turmoil.
And, the effort is being jointly propped by the Union tourism and state tourism departments.
A team of the CBHO officials with representatives from all the districts of West Bengal would reach Darjeeling tomorrow along with the regional director, India Tourism Mr DK Baruah and director state tourism Mr Roopam Chowdhury to attend a seminar on tourism in the hill town. The hill-based Gorkha Jan Mukti Hotel Owners’ Association would facilitate the activity.
“The effort is aimed at ensuring tourist flow to the Darjeeling hills during the festive season,” claimed the CBHO vice president Mr KC Ghosh today. “The CBHO has already interacted with the GJMHOA on the issue and they have assured us all cooperation to attain the objective,” he added.
A crisis in the tourism sector has set in following the political activities in the Darjeeling hills fraught with bandhs and confrontations. Hundreds of tourists had to leave the Darjeeling hills in a huff, their itinerary cut short by a GJMM diktat, in the last tourist season.
The effect is visible. According to the CBHO officials, the Darjeeling hotels and by extension those in Siliguri, brim with reservations during the festive season in general.
“There are hardly any reservations this year and the ones done earlier are being cancelled too,” said Mr Ghosh.
Tomorrow's exercise therefore could provide a make or break situation for the hotel industry in the hills and Siliguri, at least for the forthcoming festival season.

Courtesy: The Statesman

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