Kolkata, Jan 28 (IANS) The central and West Bengal governments have joined hands to develop a rural tourism project at Ballabhpur, near Bolpur in Birbhum district, at an expenditure of Rs.70 lakh, state Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee said here Thursday.
The spot, to be inaugurated Feb 22, will provide tourists a respite from urban drudgery with an experience of living in a village ambience.

The visitors can relish rural food and live in huts which would, however, have all modern amenities.

Mukherjee said the government will play the role of a facilitator and do the marketing. “We will train the locals who will cater to the guests. This will increase rural employment,” he said before inaugurating a two-day conference Destination East organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) managing director T.V.N. Rao said the tourists can also see for themselves the work of rural artisans making clay models and other handicrafts.

The minister said east and north east India received 1.13 million tourists every year.