The Bengal tourism department has come up with colourful leaflets and is distributing them among residents across the state at the ongoing “Duare Sarkar” camps to highlight the tourist destinations of all 23 districts.

“We have come up with a two-page leaflet in Bengali on each district of Bengal, including all districts of north Bengal. Key attractions, communication modes and accommodation details are written on the leaflets that are being distributed through the camps where hundreds visit every day,” said Jyoti Ghosh, the deputy director of state tourism department posted in north Bengal.

In the leaflet for Darjeeling district, for instance, attractions like the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Tiger Hill, Batasia loop, the zoo, Chowrasta and Buddhist monasteries are cited.

“Events like the orange festival, Darjeeling carnival and tea tourism festival are also mentioned,” the official added.

A tourism official said that through the leaflets they wanted to encourage people of Bengal to explore their own state through short trips. “Many are unaware of the attractions of the districts of Bengal. The information in the leaflets will change that,” he added.

Over the past few years, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her government have encouraged the tourism sector which contributes to around 12 per cent of the state’s GDP. A number of new tourism sites have been developed in northern and southern parts of the state.

“The chief minister is steadfastly focusing on creation of homestay accommodations and at the administrative meetings, she is instructing the officers that local youths should be encouraged to set up such facilities near different destinations. The leaflets, we believe, will supplement the efforts and push people to visit new places of the state,” the official added.