Kolkata, August 27, 2025: The Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) organised its Tourism Conclave at The Lalit Great Eastern, Kolkata, focusing on “Transforming West Bengal Tourism: A Pathway to Sustainable Excellence.”
The conclave was attended by Hon’ble Tourism Minister Shri Indranil Sen as Chief Guest, along with senior officials including Smt. Nandini Chakravorty, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal; Shri Rathendra Raman, IRTS, Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port; Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS, Secretary, Transport Department; and Shri Debjit Dutta, Chairman, IATO West Bengal Chapter.
Strong Resurgence in Tourism
West Bengal recorded a historic 18.5 crore visitors in 2024, surpassing 14.5 crore in 2023 and showing strong recovery from 8.4 crore in 2022. This surge places the state among India’s leading destinations in visitor footfalls. The homestay sector is also booming, with over 5,300 operational units and nearly 3,800 more in the pipeline, creating grassroots opportunities.
Tourism continues to drive economic growth, with iconic festivals such as Durga Puja generating Rs. 32,000 crore annually.
Push for Sustainability
Speakers emphasised the need to balance growth with ecological protection. West Bengal, home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Santiniketan, and Sundarbans National Park—is adopting eco-friendly initiatives. The West Bengal Homestay Policy 2022 has spurred a 320% rise in registrations, while projects like Pathasathi have added roadside amenities through public-private partnerships.
Globally, the sustainable tourism market, valued at USD 2.73 trillion in 2023, is projected to touch USD 9.17 trillion by 2032, with India expected to play a major role.
Investment & Future Goals
At the Bengal Global Business Summit, tourism proposals worth Rs. 5,600 crore were secured, with another Rs. 5,770 crore earmarked for luxury hotels and 70 projects in 2025–26.
The conclave concluded with a call to align with India’s target of achieving USD 1 trillion tourism GDP by 2047, ensuring that future generations inherit a thriving and sustainable legacy.
