Stories
Bengal to Host Investors' Meet for Tourism Boost on World Tourism Day
- •West Bengal government will hold an investors' meet on Sunday to attract more investment in the tourism sector, coinciding with World Tourism Day.
- •This marks the first such initiative by the state Tourism Department, aiming to convert tourism potential into investment and employment opportunities.
- •The government is focusing on making the tourism sector more technology-driven, recognizing the growing influence of AI and new technologies on travel planning.
- •Infrastructure development is underway across North and South Bengal, with Rs 57 crore approved under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for Mirik Lake development.
- •Emphasis is also placed on river tourism, with a hybrid-electric ferry introduced and new jetties developed in Kolkata, Barrackpore, Hooghly, and Nadia, alongside integrating district-level festivals with tourism.
Key Questions Answered
The West Bengal government is holding an investors' meet in Kolkata on Sunday to seek more investment in the tourism sector, coinciding with World Tourism Day. Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh stated that this marks the state Tourism Department's first such initiative to convert tourism potential into investment and employment opportunities.
The state has received approval for Rs 57 crore under the Centre's Swadesh Darshan scheme to develop Mirik Lake in the Darjeeling district. Additionally, an overall allocation of Rs 500 crore has been made by the state to overhaul tourism infrastructure and attract both domestic and foreign visitors.
The state has signed an agreement with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) to introduce a hybrid-electric ferry carrying 100 passengers, alongside developing new jetties in Kolkata, Barrackpore, Hooghly, and Nadia. Furthermore, the government is focusing on artificial intelligence and new technologies to align destination choices and travel planning with modern trends.
