This is the first time that West Bengal participated with a separate stall at ITB Berlin from Mar 5-9.

Speaking on the success of the participation, Umapada Chatterjee  Director, West Bengal Tourism,  said, “The enthusiasm showed by foreign tour operators on the products displayed at the state pavilion marks the success and acceptance of the state’s tourism in the world market. ITB Berlin had about 60 business enquiries through B2B meetings while as many as 50 media persons from across the world visited the stall for inputs. The interest was also evident with the participation of 150 travel and tour operators, with special interest in India and Asia travel programmes, attending a tea party organised by the state tourism department.”

He also stressed on the fact that participation at ITB Asia held at International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Suntec City Singapore between Oct 23 to 25 2013, and London Tourism Mart between Nov 4 to 7, 'is bound to increase tourism footfalls in the state as the products are now well accepted in international markets'.

He said that ITB Singapore had approximately 50 B2B and media visits, while at London there were 112 B2B meetings with 24 media visits.

In all, nearly 300 B2B meetings and media interests were generated at all the three international fairs.

At ITB Berlin the well decorated stall from West Bengal focused on major tour destinations such as Sunderbans, Darjeeling and Kolkata during the Durga Puja Festival.

At a press conference held at the Conference Hall of ITB, Berlin on Mar 7, more than 50 media houses attended. A presentation of the tourist destinations of the state was made and this created enthusiasm among the media persons present.

Most of them were interested to know about the mode of travel to different parts of the state and provisions of accommodations etc. All the queries were satisfactorily answered by the Director of Tourism and other officials from West Bengal Tourism.

The tour operators of the international travel marts also wanted exclusive tailor made products and tourism packages. The West Bengal Tourism Development Corpn. Ltd. and other inbound tour operators from the state who participated at the state pavilion, made very successful business transaction by selling tour packages to the international tour operators of different countries.

The media houses and the tour operators of different countries and state who attended the State Pavilion commented positively about the visibility of West Bengal Tourism in the international arena, the statement noted.

On Mar 7, Director Tourism also felicitated H.S. Shivaprakash, Director Tagore Centre at Berlin.