A resort in Lataguri, close to Gorumara National Park. Picture by Biplab Basak

Siliguri, June 17: Resort owners in Lataguri are seeking to undo the damage caused to the tourism industry in the Dooars following the recent attacks on visitors allegedly by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters.

Five members of the Lataguri Resort Owners’ Association today held a meeting to discuss ways of allaying fear in the minds of tourists and promoting the Dooars, more specifically Lataguri, among them.

The move comes after a group of alleged Morcha supporters beat up tourists and set on fire the vehicle in which they were travelling on June 11.

“The incident has done a lot of damage to the Dooars’ image as a peaceful destination that had seen a steady rise in the inflow of tourists in recent times,” said Kamal Bhowmick, secretary of the association.“The recent attack on tourists was an isolated incident and peace has since returned to the Dooars. We would want tourists to come again in large numbers for a good holiday.”

Bhowmick said the association would be writing to the Jalpaiguri district administration and the forest department regarding the safety of the tourists. “Security is a crucial aspect in tourism and we will request the authorities to intensify vigil in places where tourists throng,” said Bhowmick.

“We will also approach the forest department seeking a better co-ordination among its different divisions like the wildlife and territorial wings to ensure the better and safer movement of visitors,” said Bhowmick

The hoteliers have also resolved to participate in tourism fairs in the coming months to promote the Dooars. “With trouble brewing in the hills, Dooars can be an alternative choice for tourists. It has quite a number of attractions and we want tourists to know about them,” Bhowmick said.

Samrat Sanyal, secretary of Eastern Himalayan Travel and Tour Operators’ Association, echoed Bhowmick. “Although the forests will be closed for monsoon, there is no reason to believe that people won’t visit the Dooars during this time,” Sanyal said. “There are many tourists who have shown interest in visiting the Dooars to enjoy the natural beauty of the rain forests at its best.”