The Big Bengali Traveller

Kolkata, July 30 (UNI) Considering the 'Bhodrolok's penchant for going places, it was only fitting that the 49th edition of Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) kickstarted here with 21 states and six countries including Indonesia, Thailand and UAE, participating in it.

The three-day annual fair which started here yesterday is expected to attract more than 2000 trade visitors mostly from the tourism industry including tour operators, hoteliers and over 30,000 general visitors.

Almost all states had a stall in the travel mart to woo the Bengali Traveller. Besides, tour operators and hoteliers were present in big numbers to cash in on the unsatiated demnad of the people in Bengal.

The usually conservative spender, the Bengalis are known to have a big heart when it comes to spending on tours, both domestic and foreign.

West Bengal Tourism Minister Manab Mukherjee said here at the Netaji Indoor Stadium that developing the tourism sector was also important along with the state's industrial rejevunation.

Highlighting the state's tourism potential, Mr Mukherjee said the state catered to various class of tourists, ranging from someone who enjoyed the majestic Himalayas to the beaches on the Bay of Bengal as also the Sunderbans, which is famous for the Royal Bengal tigers.

Sikkim Tourism Minister R B Subba said, ''West Bengal is one of the most important tourism markets for Sikkim and this is obvious from the fact that we are here in TTF, Kolkata to nurse and cultivate this ever growing tourism market''.

The TTF would travel to Hyderabad next week and from there to Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

UNI SP SJC VJ KN1317