<p>Kolkata: West Bengal Tourism minister Indranil Sen on Thursday told the Assembly that the state has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in India.</p>.<p>He said that 1,022 tourist guides have received certificates so far after the Tourism department introduced the Tourist Guide Certification Scheme in the state.</p>.<p>Sen told the House that West Bengal has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in the country.</p>.Apni Party organises Shikara rally at Dal Lake to revive J&K tourism.<p>Stating that the Tourism department has taken several initiatives to increase tourist arrivals in Purulia, which had been affected by Maoist activities over a decade back, the minister said that a large number of tourists were now visiting the lush green forests and hills in this western district.</p>.<p>Sen said that the state government was giving adequate infrastructural support to private entities to open tourism properties.</p>.<p>He said that the Purulia Tourism Development Council has been formed to provide necessary assistance to all stakeholders and promote travel to the district, which till a decade back was rarely considered as a tourist destination.</p>.<p>The minister said that those tourists who visit north Bengal for forests and hills, are now considering Purulia, where peace and security have been re-established.</p>
<p>Kolkata: West Bengal Tourism minister Indranil Sen on Thursday told the Assembly that the state has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in India.</p>.<p>He said that 1,022 tourist guides have received certificates so far after the Tourism department introduced the Tourist Guide Certification Scheme in the state.</p>.<p>Sen told the House that West Bengal has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in the country.</p>.Apni Party organises Shikara rally at Dal Lake to revive J&K tourism.<p>Stating that the Tourism department has taken several initiatives to increase tourist arrivals in Purulia, which had been affected by Maoist activities over a decade back, the minister said that a large number of tourists were now visiting the lush green forests and hills in this western district.</p>.<p>Sen said that the state government was giving adequate infrastructural support to private entities to open tourism properties.</p>.<p>He said that the Purulia Tourism Development Council has been formed to provide necessary assistance to all stakeholders and promote travel to the district, which till a decade back was rarely considered as a tourist destination.</p>.<p>The minister said that those tourists who visit north Bengal for forests and hills, are now considering Purulia, where peace and security have been re-established.</p>