Tea tourism plans still on paper

KOLKATA: Darjeeling tea planters’ plans to launch tourism on their estates will take some more time to materialise.

Though the Mamata Banerjee government is gung-ho about the idea, it has not yet allowed the planters to convert land use from agriculture to tourism. Planters are keen on tea tourism as it provides them an alternative source of income at a time when erratic weather is affecting tea production.

In 2012, the crop was down by 5%-6% and the weather prevailing in the hills is not conducive for first-flush teas that command good prices in international markets. SS Bagaria, chairman, Darjeeling Tea Association and a planter himself, said: “We had approached the West Bengal government for setting up tea tourism projects on our estates. We need some permission from the state government for using agricultural land for tea tourism. But till date we have not received any permission. In fact, we met the land and land reforms secretary recently. He has told us that the matter is being looked into.”

A section of Darjeeling planters say that with peace returning in Darjeeling, there is an immense scope for tea tourism in the hills, an idea that finds resonance among tour operators.

“International tourists are keen to spend time on the estates. If such projects come up, the flow of tourists will increase and better revenues will be earned by tea estates and the local people will benefit,” said Sumanta Sarkar, a member of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association. Added Subhas Goel, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators: “We are recommending people to visit Darjeeling.”

“All the areas in a tea estate are not suitable for cultivation. A portion of this land can be gainfully used for tea tourism,” added Bagaria. Darjeeling tea production was hit hard in 2012 due to dry weather at the beginning of the year and excessive rainfall afterwards.

First-flush teas, which constitute 25-30% of Darjeeling’s production, were hit by dry spells during the October 2011-March 2012 period. Darjeeling tea bushes require a rainfall of around 3-4 inches during October-March while it received 0.5 inches last year.