North Bengal’s tourism sector has reason to cheer again. After a long gap, the forest department has decided to reintroduce online booking for elephant safaris in Jaldapara and Gorumara National Parks, bringing relief to travellers ahead of the Durga Puja holidays.
For the past several seasons, withdrawal of online booking facility had left tourists in difficulty. Visitors from across the country —including Kolkata — were forced to try their luck after reaching Dooars, often queuing up in the early hours to secure limited tickets. Many left disappointed when safaris were sold out.
This time, with online booking opening before the festival season, travellers can plan their itineraries in advance and secure tickets from home.
Parthasarathy Roy, president of the Dooars Tourism Development Welfare Society, welcomed the move saying, “The rush of tourists will increase further as online booking is re-launched. If you have your safari tickets in hand in advance, many will be able to plan their trip with peace of mind.”
According to the forest department, seven elephant safaris have been lined up in Jaldapara and four in Gorumara. A fixed number of tourists will be accommodated daily. However, officials clarified that online booking is limited to elephant safaris for now—the popular car safaris will continue to be booked offline.
Chief Conservator of Forest (North Bengal) Bhaskar JV said, “Online booking for elephant safaris is being resumed before the Puja. Car safaris will have to be booked offline as before.”
The announcement has generated excitement among hoteliers and travel agents in Dooars. They believe the move will provide fresh momentum to the region’s tourism industry, which witnesses a surge of visitors during the Sharad Utsav holidays. Hotel owners said many tourists often called or emailed to inquire about advance bookings, only to be disappointed. Now, they expect a permanent solution to this long-standing problem.
“Local residents, too, see opportunities in the decision. With a likely rise in tourist footfall, homestays, resorts, restaurants and travel services are expected to benefit, creating more employment in the area,” said a forest department official.
All in all, the return of online booking for elephant safaris in Jaldapara and Gorumara has rekindled excitement among the tourists. “While car safaris remain offline for now, the new system is seen as a crucial step toward smoother travel planning and boosting Dooars’ tourism economy,” said the official.
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