The Bengal government will host a tourism meet of G20 nations in the Darjeeling district and showcase the tourism potential of north Bengal before foreign delegates at the event.

H.K. Dwivedi, the chief secretary, who attended the North Bengal MSME & Business Conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here on Wednesday, said the government was putting all efforts to ensure that the meet planned in the region yielded results for the growth of the tourism sector.

“Tourism ministers of G20 nations will visit this from April 1 to April 3. It is a good opportunity for us to showcase the potentials of Darjeeling and north Bengal districts as tourist destinations during the meet,” he said.

The bureaucrat also underscored that a peaceful atmosphere in the hills is important to boost commercial activities and the local economy.

“The chief minister has time and again pointed out that a congenial atmosphere is necessary and it has been proved in recent years as there has been a record in the footfall of tourists in the hills. Altogether, around 150 delegates from different nations will attend the upcoming event. We want to explore this occasion,” added Dwivedi.

At the event, he also elaborated on the state’s focus on the promotion of tea tourism, which in recent years, has started gaining popularity in the tea belt of north Bengal, and simultaneously asserted that the state wants to ensure that tourism activities do not affect the tea sector.

“Tea is the identity of Darjeeling and Dooars. If we try to reduce the plantation areas, it will affect the industry. That is why, as per the state’s tourism policy, only 15 per cent of the land of a tea garden (subject to a maximum area of 150 acres), which is lying unused and vacant, can be utilized for other commercial activities,” said the chief secretary.

The state has approved five-six proposals for developing a nursing college, hotel, cottages and for agricultural and horticultural projects.

Speaking at the conclave, which was the second of its kind organized within a year, Dwivedi also spoke about infrastructural developments.

He mentioned the industrial corridors which would connect north Bengal and places like Dankuni, Raghunathpur, Haldia and Kalyani in southern parts of the state.