The official poster and logo of the Himalayan Tourism Mart — a three-day event to promote tourism in the Himalayan region planned in January 2024 — were launched in Calcutta on Friday.

The Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network (HHTDN) — an apex body of tourism stakeholders — is hosting the event in Siliguri from January 8 to 10.

Raj Basu, the chief adviser of the HHTDN, said that the entire Himalayan region, especially the region which falls in Bengal, is rich in diversity and famous for its serene locations. Surrounded by mountains, pristine rivers, valleys and a number of wildlife habitats, the region draws thousands of tourists throughout the year.

"Our aim is to provide a platform to the tourism stakeholders across the country who are associated with the industry in neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh to connect through this mart. It can help them to explore new opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry,” said Basu while elaborating the major objectives of the event.

The mart, he said, would open a new avenue for the tourism stakeholders who are involved in the various sectors of the industry ranging from homestay accommodations to adventure sports.

In the course of the event, the organisers will arrange familiarisation trips for participants or trips that will help them get a firsthand experience of tourist spots, catch a glimpse of the local culture and enjoy local traditional cuisine,

Samrat Sanyal, the general secretary of the tourism stakeholders’ forum, said regular interactive sessions, workshops and panel discussions will be held during the event.

“The participants would be apprised of latest trends and new markets of the tourism industry. The event will help unlock the huge potential of the sector in this region. We are confident that after the event, footfall of tourists will rise,” said Sanyal.