EVENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HELD IN TOURIST SEASON: AGENTSHill fest kicks off, questions on timing

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 21 September 2019, Darjeeling: An air of festivity swept the inaugural day of a seven-day Darjeeling Fest on Friday but many tourism stakeholders felt the pomp and show could have been better planned and timed to coincide with the tourist season.

"The festival has ushered the festive mood in Darjeeling. The procession today was similar to the phulpati (Dusshera) rally. People might have problems but we must all participate to uphold the pride of this place," Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang, the president of the carnival, said.

Tamang was present along with Anit Thapa, his Morcha colleague who heads the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) that has organised the fest.

Tamang, Thapa, GTA principal secretary Surendra Gupta, district magistrate Deepap Priya P. and Darjeeling SP Amarnath K. and others led a colourful rally from Darjeeling Motor Stand to Chowrasta.

The rally was attended by members of various hill communities who were decked in their tradi- A festival rally in Darjeeling. Picture by KundanYolmo tional attire and carried musical instruments. The carnival will end on September 27, World Tourism Day. "The festival will also help boost tourism in Darjeeling and we plan to organise this event annually," said Tamang.

Tourism is one of the mainstays of the hill economy but many stakeholders rued the lack of planning behind the fest.

"If the festival is for tourists, it should have been held when the tourist season peaks. The festival has been organised a fortnight too early and it will basically entertain locals," said an hotelier.

Those associated with the tourism industry suggested that if benefits were to flow from such a festival, there should be consistency and proper dissemination of information before the dates are announced.

"There has to be a specific purpose. The dates of such festivals need to announced at least a year ahead so that it can attract tourists. Most major festivals in the world are held on specific dates annually. A proper calendar helps instead of announcing the festival dates only 10 days before,"said another tourism stakeholder.

Darjeeling bursts at its seams during the two major seasons -- the Puja vacation and the period after board exams in March and the first week of May.

"Such festivals are usually organised to prolong the season and it would have been good if the current one was held at the fag-end of the season," said travel agent.

Many were also of the opinion that if the festival was to cater to tourists, the planning must be different. "Tourists are more interested in exploring the culture. Tourist-specific events should be different," said an hotelier..