Tourism stakeholders of Dooars have introduced a new package to woo tourists who are skipping the region because of Bhutan’s tourism policy.

Bhutan charges ₹1,200 per person per night as sustainable tourism fees.

Biswajit Saha, secretary of the Eastern Dooars Tourism Development Association, said: “Middle-class tourists are not visiting Bhutan as they have to pay ₹1,200 per person per night.”

Middle-class tourists usually avail themselves of a holiday package that includes Dooars and Bhutan.

The Dooars region, which includes parts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, has wildlife sanctuaries such as Jaldapara National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, tea gardens and other places of interest.

However, with a dip in tourist inflow, stakeholders have now come up with a combined package of Dooars and Assam to attract tourists during the upcoming Puja vacations.

“We have now decided to come up with a package that will include both Dooars and Assam,” said Saha.

The decision was taken during a meeting of tour operators from Dooars and Assam at Lankapara Eco Park in Madarihat block of Alipurduar district on Sunday.

Tapas Barman, a tour operator from Assam who was present at the meeting, expressed confidence in the new initiative.

“The beauty of the region is unknown to many and we are hopeful that this joint package will receive a good response from travellers,” said Barman.

On Sunday, a 25km marathon was held from Jaldapara National Park to Falakata town club.

Participants from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sikkim and other parts of the state ran the race organised by the district administration along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Young India.

The event was aimed at promoting tourism in the region.

Raj Basu, chairman of the eco-tourism committee of the state tourism department, said: “This marathon is not just a one-time event but a cornerstone for future tourism initiatives. We aim to make it an annual tradition highlighting Alipurduar’s rich biodiversity, cultural heritage and the scenic beauty of its protected forests like Buxa and Jaldapara.”

“With 32 tribes, 64 tea gardens and a diverse array of wildlife, Alipurduar stands out as a unique destination,” Basu added.