Ranchi, July 29: The state tourism department bagged the best decorated kiosk award at tourism and travel exhibition, 2008, in Calcutta.

The three-day exhibition was held from July 25.

The exhibition is an annual feature organised by Chalo Jaai, where almost every state displays their tourist destinations and facilities. It was a forum for national and international travel and tourism industry and agencies to interact.

Kiosks had been put up by several countries, including China, Nepal, Bangladesh, and different states like Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, Tripura among others.

Tourism and planning secretary Arun Kumar Singh said that they had tried to display main attractions of Jharkhand and its tremendous tourist potentials, which needed to be tapped.

It is the first time that the state tourism department had been awarded for the same. Bengal was the only other state in the eastern region to get an award with Jharkhand.

Apart from state officials, even hoteliers were included in the Jharkhand team. Now, the state government proposes to take representatives from hotel and travel agencies in future trips too.

Representatives from Hotel Green Horizon had accompanied the group to the fair in Calcutta.

In view of the three-day Baba Baidyanath Dham Mahotsav starting August 16, the state government tried to discuss specialised tour packages for national and international tourists.

Discussions were also held on the safety and security of the groups as well as lodging facilities during their stay in the state.