Dr. Avnish Jolly, 16th July, 2008:Government of Jharkhand is planning to launch a bi-lingual portal to promote tourism in the state. The website, yet to named, is likely to be hosted worldwide on August 15. Lotus Communications has been entrusted with task of developing the website, while the state Information Technology Department will cooperate in the project to facilitate e-registration and other aspects to make the website worth visiting for the tourists. The project plan envisages placing some exquisitely designed multimedia windows on the website with all features like sound and animation. Detailed profiles of the districts encompassing their art and cultural heritage, cuisine and photo gallery would also be placed on the webpage.
Arun Kumar Singh, Secretary, State Tourism hoped that it would become the best website on tourism in the country, adding that the Department had identified scope of work to be done by the service provider, which is expected to create the portal and maintain the same for at least a year.
"Interactive links to Google Earth and active geographical position system (GPS) tool would help the visitors make detailed plans and also get additional idea of places at the click of the mouse," said a designer for the proposed portal. The website will also carry comprehensive information about accommodations near the tourist spots and transportation, food, road and railway links.
Officials of the state Tourism Department said that the website would have links of other websites that deal in facilitating online reservation and confirmation of tickets and berths in hostels through a payment gateway. The online payment system would cover government and private hotels and guesthouses.
Visitors to the websites could also access multimedia spots to have vivid glimpses on famous tourist destinations of Ranchi, Deoghar, Giridih, Netarhat, wildlife sanctuaries, adventure tourism and other important festivals of the eastern Indian state.
Tourism Department is also planning to develop an internal tourism management system to take care of travellers and help them get hotel rooms and other facilities at all locations.