INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENT FOR TOURISM GROWTH IN THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL: EVIDENCE FROM HERITAGE TOURISM DESTINATION, BISHNUPUR, INDIA

Over the past decade, the concept of tourism has become one of the vital issues of economic and social benefits to the society. The primary objectives of this study includes the growth, development and emergence of heritage tourism in the state of West Bengal, study the heritage tourism potentials of West Bengal in general and Bishnupur in particular, study the role played by the State Government, Department of Tourism, analyze the tourist flow pattern of Bishnupur, examine the existing as well as future requirement of tourism infrastructure of Bishnupur .The major findings shows that the type of rural tourism infrastructure requirements and its quality. This study also indicates that how to develop and upgrade the heritage tourism destinations by development of proper utilization of tourism infrastructural amenities in the area as well as active participation by public private initiatives and utilization of local resources. This approach of study tried to find out the way to achieve sustainable tourism development in Bishnupur as a perfect heritage tourism destination of West Bengal. Heritage tourism is expected to emerge as an important key factor for sustainable human development including poverty alleviation, employment generation, environmental re-generation and development of remote areas and empowerment of women in West Bengal in the near future to come.