He pointed out that tourism is a broad-based job generator. "With the proliferation of community tourism, we can we uplift the local economy," the minister said.

 

The website, which lists over 40 weekend destinations from 20 districts of West Bengal, contains information about the place, how to go, accommodation and tariff, and specialities, if any.

 

"The website provides complete contact details of the properties so that travellers can directly contact them for booking accommodation," said Subhodip Ghosh, Director General of Bengal Chambers.

 

The website not only lists popular destinations but also some lesser known ones such as Telkupi in Purulia, Kingfisher Island in North 24 Parganas, Gopegarh in West Mindapore, Ichhe Gaon in Darjeeling, etc.

 

According to Sutanu Ghosh, President of Bengal Chamber, said that in recent years, there has been a rise in people's interest for rural tourism. He said, therefore, the in-house research team led by Soma Mitra Mukherjee, emphasised on selecting properties that were trying to promote 'village tourism'. 

 

Destinations that lie within an hour to two-and-a-half hours' distance away from leading cities and towns of West Bengal have been chosen, he said.

 

Anil Punjabi, Chairperson of the Chamber's Tourism Committee and President of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), said that while people in Kolkata and other major cities in West Bengal will find it very convenient to zero in on a weekend destination in a jiffy, the website will also help travellers from outside the state to study in detail the options available in West Bengal for an experiential visit. 

 

Bengal Chambers is also planning to bring out an App for the weekend destination website so that the information is just a click or a tap away.  

 

 
Reporting by Uttara Gangopadhyay