In order to augment and unlock the tourism potential of the state, the Government of West Bengal had constituted a State Tourism Task Force to indentify the potential sectors of tourism for a focused and planned approach.
Under its aegis and advise, it was found imperative to form a separate Sub-committee on each of the prime sectors under tourism for batter growth. One amongst the six prime sectors that were categorised by the Task Force is ‘River Tourism’ which will be guided by the renowned authority on Indian Wildlife Raj Singh as its Chairman.
A travel industry pioneer, Raj Singh started Antara River Cruises almost 10 years ago for special interest travel. The small luxury boutique ships sail bespoke journeys along the Ganges showcasing a world of culture and art that otherwise lays hidden with traditional modes of land transport.
“Clinching an independent space beside Heritage and Cultural Tourism, Adventure Tourism, MICE Tourism, Rural and Tea Tourism and Eco Tourism, we are elated that River Tourism has been recognised as an important stakeholder of the tourism narrative of the State,” said, Raj Singh, Chairman, River Tourism Sub-Committee.
“River Cruising has a unique opportunities in our country. The trick is to have low volume and low impact, slow tourism upon a river cruise, to ensure the experience is unparalleled. This is one delicate sector that cannot benefit from a mass tourism strategy. Rivers of the subcontinent have been the cradle of civilisations and society since time immemorial. One can joyfully explore the untouched aspects of the history, culture, traditions, and wildlife,” he added.
The Sub-Committee is tasked with deliberating on the needs and issues of river tourism, in particular identifying areas of promotion, developing strategies to achieve set goals, exploring avenues for private sector participation, implementing national and global best practices.
Elaborating further on the Sub-Committee’s responsibilities, Raj Singh also assures, “Use of technological advancement, making the practices even more inclusive by involving local communities, ensuring certifications and achieve global benchmarking services within the industry are also very much on the agenda.”
