Show, lights for tourists
Posted by barunroy on May 13, 2008
Darjeeling, May 12: Hotel owners here will organise daily cultural shows at Chowrastha from May 17 to woo tourists who have been advised by a Bengal minister to give Darjeeling a miss this summer because of the political situation in the hills. [Darjeeling]
“The shows, organised by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hotel Owners’ Association, will be held between 5pm and 7pm,” said Association president Sangay Tshering. The current season, which began last month, ends in June.
The hotel owners said so far, tourist flow from Calcutta was less compared to last year. “The state government has done nothing to promote tourism. Instead (urban development minister) Asok Bhattacharya and (former chief minister) Jyoti Basu have asked tourists not to visit the hill town. We are organising the shows to tell visitors that things are fine in Darjeeling,” said Tshering.
Bhattacharya and Basu’s comments came in response to the revival of the movement in the hills for a separate state, which is being spearheaded by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
The hotel owners added that foreigners and visitors from other parts of the country are still flocking to Darjeeling.
Besides the cultural shows, all hotels located along the major thoroughfares in Darjeeling will light up at night “to create a good ambience”, said Association secretary Palden Lama.
The association has also decided to open four helplines for tourists. “The numbers are 09735053864, 09800666492, 09800666530 and 09832039199 and will be functional from tomorrow,” said Lama.
The Association members will meet on May 17 to discuss other ways to make the hospitality industry in the hills more attractive. Morcha chief Bimal Gurung will attend the meeting. [The Telegraph]
