Bengal’s Tea Tourism gets a big revenue boost: State Government eases land use norms

The State Government eased Land Usage norms for North Bengal’s tea gardens that will help the industry to open doors to alternative revenue generation, including a flourishing tea tourism in the state. This will indeed give a big revenue boost to the tea industry that at times reel under financial distress. The State Department of Industry and Commerce will act as a nodal agency to ensure proper implementation of the new ‘Tea Tourism and Allied Industry Policy 2019.’

The garden owners can now use and utilise unused estate land for construction, as part of tourism ventures. 15% of the land can now be used for promoting tourism without hampering the area earmarked for tea production. This will not only help in boosting up the revenue share of the gardens, but also produce several job opportunities for locals. Also the planters cannot reduce the acres of land planted or make any job cuts.

Various Tea Planters organisations have lauded the government for this encouraging step. Indian Tea Association (ITA) have hailed the decision as a very ‘positive move.’ Indeed, Tea Tourism will be the buzzword in the days to come in North Bengal.