Lataguri is targetting tourists from Bihar

Lataguri is a remote settlement in the Dooars region of North Bengal. Its main distinction is that it serves as the gateway to the Gorumara National Park. Gorumara is one of the few forests, apart from Kaziranga in Assam and Jaldapara in the Dooars, where the one-horned rhinoceros can be seen. Along with rhinos, the sanctuary is home to a wide range of animals, birds, and reptiles, including elephants, leopards, and Indian bison. Gorumara has received the title of “Best forest” several times.

But recently, tourists have not been visiting this forest in the way they used to. The Lataguri Hotel and Resort Owners’ Association is deeply concerned about this decline.

Key Reasons for Visitor Decline:

The Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri is the main reason behind the drop in visitors to Lataguri. It is an open-air zoo that offers a forest-like experience along with the sight of many different animals and birds. Earlier, tourists in North Bengal would take short holidays or weekend trips to either Gorumara or Jaldapara. But in most cases, very little can be seen from the watchtowers, which has naturally reduced tourists’ interest. In 2023–24, around 375,000 tourists visited Bengal Safari. This alone explains why fewer people are now going to Gorumara.

Another issue is that many tourist spots are very dirty. In most places, local people use the surrounding areas for open defecation. Toilets should be built there. Just constructing hotels and resorts is not enough; the tourist spots themselves must be kept clean.
Otherwise, visitors will not come back a second time.

In addition, several forest bungalows, including those at Hollong, are closed. As a result, people who used to go into the forest to enjoy its solitude are no longer visiting. Earlier, the Forest Department would set up feeding areas along tourist tracks for animals. This no longer happens, so animals are moving farther away in search of food, and sightings have become rare.
The main tourists to the Dooars are Bengalis.

Meanwhile, Purulia is emerging as an important destination on the tourism map. It offers forests, ancient architecture, lakes, hills, and waterfalls all in one place, and it is much closer to Kolkata. This winter season, Purulia is fully booked.

The tea garden authorities report that leopard families are now settling near tea estate areas in search of food, which is why they are rarely seen in the forest. Food needs to be prepared and distributed to draw them back into the forest. In many game parks in Africa, pumps are installed to supply water in the forest during summer, and even food is provided.

Humans may have become more civilized, but the animals of the forest are not benefiting from it. There is not enough food in the forest, so breeding is not happening properly and birth rates among animals are falling. For example, in Buxa Tiger Reserve, one can travel for miles without seeing anything. It must be understood that people do not go to forests just to stay there; they go to see animals, birds, trees, and plants. There are many animal-less forests in West Bengal where tourists stop for two minutes to take photos and then move on, rather than actually travel through them.

Marketing is also weak. Digital marketing for North Bengal is almost non-existent, which is why the Dooars are falling behind compared to other destinations.

For now, the Lataguri hotel and resort authorities are keen to attract tourists from the neighboring state of Bihar. But those tourists will also have to come via Siliguri, so how many of them will eventually reach Lataguri remains a matter for the future.