Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Cumbria Tourism — an organisation that is based in the Lake District of the UK — are jointly set to work to develop Siliguri as an international tourist destination and conserve resources.
Mayor Gautam Deb, who attended a video conference with representatives of the association, said they wanted to share knowledge and expertise for the development of north Bengal’s largest urban hub.
“I had an interaction with Nick Low, the British deputy high commissioner in Calcutta, and representatives of Cumbria Tourism today (Thursday) on Siliguri’s tourism potential. I have apprised them on the many new attractions such as the open-air safari park and homestay facilities that have come up in Siliguri and in Darjeeling district overall,” said Deb.
Siliguri falls under Darjeeling district.
During the interaction, the mayor also told the attendees that they intend to develop Siliguri — the gateway to the northeast — as a clean and environment-friendly international tourist destination.
The meeting, sources said, was a follow-up exercise as last June Low had a similar interaction with civic representatives here.
Deb, who was unwell then, had not been able to attend the interaction.
Sources said Cumbria is a major tourist destination in the UK with attractions ranging from the Lake District National Park to Ambleside, Windermere, Coniston and Grassmere.
Low, at the meeting, said that Cumbria and Siliguri could join hands for a clean, green and sustainable tourism industry.
“The idea is to explore areas of synergy in tourism and focus on sustainability and city management, which include water conservation and solid waste management,” said a source.
Cumbria tourism managing director Gill Haigh, Siliguri deputy mayor Ranjan Sarkar and SMC commissioner S.W. Bhutia were also present at the meet.