‘Hope sense prevails, livelihood of many at stake’

Kolkata, June 13 Darjeeling Hills have contributed substantially to the state exchequer, owing to the steady inflow of tourists. But protests in the area have indeed sent out a wrong message, said tourism minister Manabendra Mukherjee.

He was speaking at a meeting on “Unleashing Tourism Potential of West Bengal” on Friday at the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“There can be no alternative to Darjeeling as a tourist destination. I sincerely hope that sense will prevail, and the problem of the hills will be solved soon,” said Mukherjee.

“Thousands of people in Darjeeling and the Dooars depend on tourism for their bread and butter,” he said. Mukherjee added that the problem of Gorkhaland is a political one and it has to be solved at a political level.

While encouraging investors to invest in West Bengal tourism, he said the state would help interested parties in every possible way.

“We will be promoting tourism in an aggressive way,” said the minister.