A group of tourists from North 24-Parganas reached the Dooars on Saturday to rejuvenate themselves after being cooped up at homes for weeks during the lockdown and they are enjoying the hospitality extended by a private resort and local people.

This is in sharp contrast to what tourists from Calcutta had faced in Darjeeling three days ago. The tourists had checked into a hotel but were made to leave the hill town by some local people even before they could spend a single day. The fear that inflow of tourists could lead to the spread of Covid-19 made the locals object to the group’s stay in Darjeeling.

Debraj Singh, a retired government employee, his two sons and their families — nine people in total — checked into the private resort in Madarihat, located on the fringes of the Jaldapara National Park. They had travelled around 750km in two vehicles to reach there.

“During the lockdown, we were at homes like millions of others. This trip has come as a respite for us. We were eagerly waiting for it. As the state government announced that hotels and resorts would reopen on June 8, we made inquiries and booked this resort. This is our first visit to this part of the Dooars,” said Debraj, who is from Jagaddal in North 24-Parganas.

The tourists, who will stay at the resort for three days, are happy with the arrangements made at the resort to prevent the spread of coronavirus and the hospitality extended by the residents of different spots which they have visited so far.

They have visited places like Chilapata, Totopara and Jainti and some tea gardens.

“It was nice to see that locals were welcoming us with warmth while maintaining social distancing and taking other precautions. People are aware of the current situation. This should be the practice as it would encourage tourists to plan trips and help those who are associated with travel and trade in making some earnings,” said Sumana, another member of the group.

At the resort, all preventive arrangements have been made, right from the reception to rooms and from the kitchen to the dining hall.

The entire property, especially rooms, is sanitised regularly. Those working in the kitchen are provided with masks, caps, gloves and sanitisers. The tourists are also checked with thermal guns at regular intervals to know their body temperature.

“We are following all health protocols to keep our property safe. The lockdown and the pandemic had left us disappointed and we were not sure when tourists would arrive. We are happy that tourists have started arriving in ones and twos within five days of hotels and resorts reopening,” said Biswajit Saha, the owner of the private resort.