Kolkata, July 31 (IANS) West Bengal Tourism Minister Manab Mukherjee Saturday said the government is trying to create new tourist destinations in Birbhum and Murshidabad districts.

'We are trying to create new tourist destinations in Birbhum and Murshidabad districts. A flight service from Kolkata to Coochbehar is starting next month. It will also help to open up western parts of Dooars for tourism,' said Mukherjee at a tourism fair here.

'While lakhs of people go to tourist destinations outside the state, many come here during the pujas, the largest festival of Bengal,' said Mukherjee.

Seven countries and 26 states are participating in the three-day travel and tourism Fair (TTF) that started here in Kolkata.

Uttarakhand, the partner state in this year's TTF, has the largest presence at the fair with over 50 exhibitors. Gujarat continues its aggressive marketing campaign in Kolkata as partner state this year too, with 22 private exhibitors.

'Apart from religious tourism, the state has much more to offer in the form of water sports, trekking and adventure tourism,' said Uttarakhand Minister of Tourism Madan Kaushik.