Problem and prospect of Souvenir industry of Malda district, West Bengal

Each and every tourist wants to bring some special specimen as a token of the particular tourist destination which called souvenir products. The souvenir always represents the locally famous product of a tourist destination. Now a day souvenir industry faces rapid growth worldwide and plays a vital role in economic development. Such as France is famous for liquors and perfumes, London is famous for chocolates etc. In India, souvenir industry also extends its wings based on physical diversity, rich heritage buildings, diversified culture and famous handicrafts. Souvenir industry in some places of West Bengal is also very famous which products include handicrafts, handlooms, unique food, liquor, unique folk and customs etc. (e.g. Darjeeling for tea, Bankura for Baluchuri saree, terracotta works and Dokra crafts, Digha for shell crafts, Purulia for chau mask, Malda for mango products, Cooch Bihar for SitalPati, Murshidabad for cooking utensils of Kasha Petol etc. The souvenir product brings not only money for the local people but also it gives invaluable publicity of the place. Both tangible and intangible experience is gathered by tourist. The present paper is an attempt to focus the problems and prospects of souvenir industry of Malda district.