The day-long workshop was the first in series in pursuance to the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the FAITH and Government of West Bengal on April 21, 2022

The Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal and Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) held a day-long workshop to formulate a tourism development strategy aiming at creation of livelihood and job opportunities. 

FAITH, the policy federation of all the ten national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India - Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), Federation of Hotel & Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI), Hotel Association of India (HAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA), Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) - held a detailed strategy formulation meet on development of a tourism roadmap in association with Government of West Bengal. 

The day-long workshop, the first in series in pursuance to the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the FAITH and Government of West Bengal on April 21, 2022, witnessed discussions on multiple issues relating to strategy roadmap. There was a consensus to evaluate in detail many of the issues concerning tourism, travel and hospitality industry including policy for heritage tourism, direct and last mile connectivity for tourist destinations, strengthening single window clearance mechanism for tourism, seamless tourist transportation, adventure and eco-tourism policy, prioritisation of top 10 tourism products and segments, marketing and awareness campaign, development of district-wise tourism inventory and tourism calendars. 

The workshop discussed ways to evolve an eclectic and holistic tourism strategy for tapping the immense tourism potential of the state, connecting tourism with the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the state thereby promoting and protecting folk art, craft and folk genres. It was decided to constitute sub-groups for more focused attention on niche tourism sectors including Heritage Tourism, Rural Tourism, Film Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Eco Tourism, River Tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Tourism.