Will transform Bengal into global destination: State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh

In a fresh initiative aimed at boosting tourism in the state, the West Bengal government’s Tourism Department has initiated consultations with tourism industry stakeholders to prepare a 90-day Tourism Action Plan and a one-year Tourism Development Roadmap.

In the first meeting between the Department of Tourism and various tourism industry associations, state Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh said the government has a “vision to transform Bengal into a global destination”.

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According to Ghosh, Bengal’s tourism vision will be guided by a five-point strategy which include Potential to Performance, Tourism for All, Reimagining the Brand of Bengal, Gateway to the East, and Partnership for Progress.

“We will work closely with industry stakeholders to formulate actionable strategies and ensure that policy decisions are aligned with the needs of the tourism sector,” Ghosh said.

Ghosh said the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has set an ambitious target of positioning West Bengal as a leading tourism destination while achieving significant growth in tourist arrivals over the next three years.

Senior Tourism Department officials described the consultative exercise as the first step towards building a long-term strategy for the sector, with inputs from industry associations expected to shape both short-term action plans and broader policy reforms.

The state Tourism Department has drawn up several plans to strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve visitor experiences and expand tourism opportunities beyond traditional destinations. These proposals were presented before the minister during the meeting.

“If the jungles of Kruger in South Africa can attract a large number of foreign tourists, why should the Sundarbans lag behind? I have just taken over the ministry. We will try our best to turn Bengal into a global destination,” Ghosh said.