We have hills to sea, let us put Bengal on global map: New tourism minister

Siliguri: Bengal’s unique feature of the Himalayas on one side and the coastline on the other gave the state enormous tourism potential, said the new tourism minister, Sankar Ghosh, who is also the Siliguri MLA, on Wednesday. He urged all stakeholders to take a collective responsibility to place Bengal firmly on the global tourism map.After being assigned the tourism and parliamentary affairs portfolios in the state cabinet, Ghosh said the task of developing tourism was not that of a single minister but required a collective effort. “This is not just the responsibility of Sankar Ghosh or of one minister in Bengal, but that of all of us collectively. I will work under the guidance of our chief minister, my cabinet colleagues, our Prime Minister and the ideology of our party,” he said.Outlining his priorities, Ghosh said his first objective would be to understand and implement PM Narendra Modi’s vision for Bengal. “Our priority will be to understand the PM’s vision for this state. Everyone’s opinion will be considered and will also seek tourism experts’ views,” he said.Pointing at the diverse tourism destinations in Bengal, he said, “We have both the hills and the sea in Bengal. There is tremendous scope for tourism. It is now our responsibility to place Bengal firmly on the global tourism map.”Ghosh also noted that Wednesday marked PM Narendra Modi’s 12-year in office, the longest tenure of a Prime Minister in the country, and said prayers were offered for his good health and continued leadership. Expressing confidence in the govt’s performance, the minister said the next five years would be crucial in transforming the tourism sector and strengthening public trust. “We have five years in hand and our work during this period will ensure we earn people’s trust for five more years in office,” he said.