Kolkata, Jun 19 (PTI) West Bengal Tourism minister Indranil Sen on Thursday told the Assembly that the state has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in India.
He said that 1,022 tourist guides have received certificates so far after the Tourism department introduced the Tourist Guide Certification Scheme in the state.
Sen told the House that West Bengal has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in the country.
Stating that the Tourism department has taken several initiatives to increase tourist arrivals in Purulia, which had been affected by Maoist activities over a decade back, the minister said that a large number of tourists were now visiting the lush green forests and hills in this western district.
Sen said that the state government was giving adequate infrastructural support to private entities to open tourism properties.
He said that the Purulia Tourism Development Council has been formed to provide necessary assistance to all stakeholders and promote travel to the district, which till a decade back was rarely considered as a tourist destination.
The minister said that those tourists who visit north Bengal for forests and hills, are now considering Purulia, where peace and security have been re-established. PTI AMR RG
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