The Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators Association (EHTTOA), an active travel and tourism association in Eastern India, recently drafted a letter to Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister, Government of West Bengal to resume the elephant rides at Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located at Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal, is famous for variety flora and fauna and especially Asiatic one-honed rhinoceros. The letter was submitted since the elephant ride for tourist was withdrawn from October 15, 2009 by the Forest Department (West Bengal) without any prior notice given to the local tourism stakeholders. The withdrawal of the elephant ride has created an inconvenience to tourists staying in prviate and West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) lodges. This information was divulged by Raj Basu, President, EHTTOA.
Since the withdrawal of the elephant rides number of tourists has been reducing in the Sanctuary. Furthermore, about 200 local people involved in various tourism related work such as guides, car owners, drivers, lodge owners and lodge workers currently do not have any work. |