JUSTIFICATION / NEED FOR THE PROJECT In India, the total foreign tourist arrival during year 2012 was

6.58 million with a growth rate of 4.3 %. The foreign exchange earnings for the year 2012 were 1109.55 crores, which shows an increase of 7.1 % over previous year. Total revenue from tourism industry during year 2012 was Rs. 16896 crores, showing an increase of 9.74 % over last year. Number of domestic tourist visits were 1036.3 million with a growth rate of 19.9%. (Source: India Tourism Statistics 2012)

Tourism in West Bengal holds a great potential to establish itself as a significant means of economy. This sector has a great potentiality to generate foreign revenue, which can bring about immediate socioeconomic benefit from small investments. West Bengal has a huge potential in this sector, as tourism is one of the major sources of foreign exchange earner for the country. Tourist arrivals in West Bengal in 2006 were estimated at around 18.4 million. This was up four-fold from around 4.5 million total tourists in 1996. During the same period, global tourism grew by 1.5 times and Indian tourism by 3.3 times. Also, the proportion of foreign tourists as a percentage of total tourists in West Bengal was higher at around 6% in 2006 as against 1% in India. This ratio has steadily gone up for the State from around 3% in 1996 thereby highlighting its increasing importance as an international destination. In absolute figures, the number of foreign tourists coming to West Bengal has gone up by about 6 times from 0.18 million in 1996 to around 1.1 million 2006. During the same period, the number of foreign tourists in India has gone up by around 1.9 times from around 2.3 million in 1996 to around 4.6 million in 2006. As a result,

the share of West Bengal in the foreign inbound tourism segment was around 25% in 2006 up from around 8% in 1996. This share needs to retained and grown further. Tourism, in the recent times, is one of the most happening sectors of the state. There has been about 300% growth of tourist inflow in West Bengal since the year 2000. West Bengal stands fourth in terms of foreign tourist inflow and fifth in terms of domestic tourist inflow in the country. A statistics from the state tourism department shows that there had been 49, 34,173 tourists in the year 2000 while in 2006 the figure has shot up to1, 84, 92,435. In the year 2006, as many as 44, 29,915 foreign tourists visited India, out of which 11, 19,548 are from West Bengal. Mukutmonipur and Jhilimili sites are visited by more than a lakh visitors. The second biggest earth dam of India is located in Mukutmonipur 55 kilometers away from Bankura district town. It is situated at the confluence of the river Kangsabati and Kumari. Green forest surround the vast bluish tract of water, and the hillocks are picturesque. The place is very famous for its superb natural beauty. The undulating terrain along the southern edge of the Kangsabati water reservoir spreads as a three-dimensional necklace in green and terracotta. The experience of the moonlit night at this reservoir makes Mukutmunipur a tourists paradise. Approximately two kilometers from the lake is the Bangopalpur Reserve Forest, a home of many species of flora and fauna. Four kilometers from the dam is the ancient town of Ambikanagar, once an important place of pilgrimage for Jains. However, a flood destroyed most of what remained in 1898. Although visited by a lakh tourists per year, the place doesnt have resort which can accommodate people from all economic background, so that they can stay there to engulf themselves in the traditional culture and unique environment of Mukutmunipur. Though there are some hotels available, but they doesnt fulfill the visitors needs. The hotels are as follows: Hotel Peerless - They charge 800-1000 Rs. per day Hotel Green Park They charge around Rs 450-600 per day Hotel Amrapali- Charges Rs 400-550 per day Hotel Aparajita- Has an in-house restaurant and the food here is delicious. Charges Rs 550-1000. There is only one resort available there, that is The WBFDCs Sonajhhuri Prakiti Bhraman Kendra resort which is built on the slope of a small hill covered with dense forest of Sonajhhuri trees (and hence the name of the resort). The charges here are 999.00 onwards per day. The resort is not very well planned and does not fulfill the needs of the visitors as it doesnt cater the modern amenities as per the requirements of the visitors, also it pays a very little attention to foreign tourists and its services are limited focusing only domestic tourists. So, the proposal is to build a cost effective eco-resort for everybody which will respond to climatic and energy consumption issues raised by present day architecture through eco sensitive design. The resort will take inspiration from local architecture and settlement pattern. Such as roof profile, passive way of cooling, surface texture, and make use of local building materials.