West Bengal Holds First Regional Beach Festival To Promote Sunderbans

ET&T staff - Kolkata

The state of West Bengal added a new attraction to its tourism product in the month of February 2004. A three day long beach festival by the name of Bakkhali-Frazergunj Beach Festival was held in Sunderbans. A panel discussion on the 'future and tourism opportunities' in West Bengal was held at the beach festival. The basic aim of the festival was to promote the Sunderbans, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) as an eco-tourism site.

The other special events and attractions of the festival were an inter-island torchlight marathon, a car and motorbike rally that began from Kolkata to Bakkhali, seafood cuisine specialties both from India and abroad along with other musical performances.

The department of Sunderbans development, government of West Bengal, along with a body of more than 150 private hotels and resorts of the region organised this first ever beach festival of the region. According to sources, the festival attracted more than 10,000 tourists and participants. The suggestion to put together a festival of this nature germinated from the South 24 Paraganas Resort and Hotel Owners Association, which is a body that consists of 150 members.

Said, Kanti Ganguly, Sunderbans development minister, West Bengal, "The state government provided the space and administrative support in the form of security, transport and publicity. We are keen to develop Bakkhali and Frazergunj as eco-tourism resorts."

Added Ajit Sil, general secretary, South 24 Paraganas Resort and Hotel Owners Association, "A large exhibition of folk arts and crafts along with exhibits from major private players of the consumer goods industry was organised during the event. Women's beach volleyball competition, beach soccer, a rowing tournament and a unique inter-island torch light marathon was also held as other major attractions of the event. The highlight of the festival was the beach fashion show event and the night-long performances by Bengali rock groups along with seafood delicacies.

A panel discussion on the 'future and tourism opportunities' in West Bengal was another added attraction of the beach festival. The basic aim of the festival wasa to promote the Sunderbans, (a UNESCO World Heritage site) as an eco-tourism site.