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Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bengal ranks third among foreign tourists' fave Indian destinations
1 2 Kolkata: Bengal has emerged as one of India's top tourism hotspots for foreign travellers, clocking a record 32 lakh international tourist arrivals in 2023–24 — the third highest in the country after Maharashtra and Gujarat, Bengal's tourism minister Indranil Sen said in the assembly on Thursday. This marks a significant jump from 27.1 lakh in 2022–23 and just 10.4 lakh in 2021–22, underscoring the state's growing global appeal and tourism turnaround post-Covid, he said. Sen said the state accounted for 14.8% of India's foreign tourist arrivals last year. "This is a huge achievement. Bengal is firmly on the international tourism map," Sen said in response to a question by BJP MLA Bishwanath Karak. The data, sourced from 'India Tourism Statistics 2023' released by the Union ministry of tourism, places Bengal alongside national tourism giants. Sen debunked a common perception that a bulk of Bengal's foreign tourist inflow is limited to visitors from neighbouring Bangladesh. "Only 1.8 lakh out of the 32 lakh foreign tourists came from Bangladesh. Over 27 lakh were from Europe, Russia, and Australia," he said. One of the biggest tourism magnets remains Kolkata's Durga Puja, which was inscribed in Unesco's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More Undo In 2023, during the festival period from Mahalaya to Diwali, the city welcomed over 5 lakh foreign visitors — with trade estimates suggesting at least 20,000 were international travellers during the five puja days in Kolkata. Anil Punjabi, national committee member of Travel Agents Federation of India, said, "We are already getting puja bookings from Canada, Spain, Europe and UK. The festive charm, the craftsmanship on display, and Bengal's value-for-money factor make it an irresistible destination during this time." Hill stations, particularly Darjeeling and Kurseong, are also witnessing a massive influx of foreign visitors. "Bengal's hill stations are now more preferred than overcrowded destinations like Shimla and Kullu-Manali. Tea tourism is popular too," said Manav Soni, national committee member of Travel Agents Association of India. Purulia and Bankura — once peripheral to Bengal's tourism economy — are now gaining traction. Launched on April 22, an eco-tourism centre near Ayodhya Hills run by local enthusiasts has already reported 87% occupancy, Sen said. The Purulia Tourism Development Council has been formed to assist local tourism stakeholders and attract more visitors. Bengal has also taken a pioneering step in professionalising its tourism industry. The state now boasts the highest number of certified tourist guides in the country — 1,022 — trained under its Tourist Guide Certification Scheme. Bengal's strategic location as a gateway to the Northeast has also given it a dual advantage. Tourists exploring states like Sikkim, Assam, and Meghalaya often transit through Bengal. New spiritual landmarks, like the Jagannath temple in Digha, are also becoming major pilgrimage and tourist attractions, travel agents said.
The Print
21 hours ago
- The Print
Bengal has highest number of tourist guides in India: Toursim minister
Sen told the House that West Bengal has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in the country. He said that 1,022 tourist guides have received certificates so far after the Tourism department introduced the Tourist Guide Certification Scheme in the state. Kolkata, Jun 19 (PTI) West Bengal Tourism minister Indranil Sen on Thursday told the Assembly that the state has the highest number of certified tourist guides among all states in India. Stating that the Tourism department has taken several initiatives to increase tourist arrivals in Purulia, which had been affected by Maoist activities over a decade back, the minister said that a large number of tourists were now visiting the lush green forests and hills in this western district. Sen said that the state government was giving adequate infrastructural support to private entities to open tourism properties. He said that the Purulia Tourism Development Council has been formed to provide necessary assistance to all stakeholders and promote travel to the district, which till a decade back was rarely considered as a tourist destination. The minister said that those tourists who visit north Bengal for forests and hills, are now considering Purulia, where peace and security have been re-established. PTI AMR RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
