A decline in Covid-19 cases has prompted stakeholders of the state’s tourism industry to convene back-to-back events to showcase tourist destinations of Bengal and its neigbouring states in a bid to augment inbound and outbound tourist flows.

The tourism industry in Bengal, which contributes around 12 per cent to the state GDP, had taken a beating owing to the pandemic, lockdown and restrictions on flight movements and entry of people from other states.

Debasish Maitra, the president of Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA), said things had started to look up only since February this year.

“The summer season is ahead and we want to confirm that there will be a surge in the footfall of tourists in north Bengal and other parts of the state in the next few months. That is why the events have been planned to encourage travel houses based in different parts of the country to send tourists here,” said Maitra.

From Saturday, the EHTTOA is hosting the sixth edition of Bengal Travel Mart at a hotel on the outskirts of Siliguri where buyers — travel houses who send tourists to Bengal and Sikkim — have been invited to check out new destinations and infrastructure that have come up in the state. “It will be a three-day programme, including discussions sessions and buyer-seller meets,” he added.

In Calcutta, a similar three-day event — the India International Travel Mart — has commenced at the Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra from Friday.

The Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network has lined up the Bengal Himalayan Carnival, which will be held at three different venues from March 25 to March 27. The event will be held in association with the state tourism department in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri’s Gajoldoba.