An appraisal of the scope of domestic tourism in Dooars foothills tourist circuit in the post-pandemic scenario

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on world economy including tourism and hospitality industry. While international tourism has been on a slump for most of the last three years, people and organisations involved in the sector need to focus on domestic tourism for a slow but steady turn around. India with a huge share of annual domestic tourists is better positioned to cope up with this scenario. Tourism Department, Govt. of West Bengal has been promoting and developing different tourist circuits in the state for the last two decades. Dooars circuit, located in a comparatively backward region in the northern foothills of the state deserves more attention. With various kinds of tourist spots and events, it attracts visitors throughout the year. Impact of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown has been felt here too. The tourism sector has suffered a setback and most of the people associated with it, have lost their earning and livelihood. Thus promoting domestic tourism in Dooars is the only feasible way to protect the industry and its workers. The present paper attempts to make an appraisal of the tourism infrastructure and services available at different tourist attractions spread over the region. It aims to suggest some policies for improvement of the tourism scenario in general and domestic tourism in particular.