123 Kolkata: A New York-based travel magazine, with 4.8 million readers across the globe, has released a list of 25 cities in the world for travel and leisure, with Kolkata ranking 19th. In terms of development, the city ranked 11th in the survey based on feedback from readers. The announcement came from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media on Monday.
Additionally, among the world's metro cities, Kolkata ranks second in terms of air quality. The Chief Minister said, "This recognition would not have been possible without the cooperation of everyone in Kolkata. Our city beautifully reflects how tradition and modernity can coexist and how development can go hand in hand with environmental awareness."
Travel and Leisure's ‘World's Best Awards' survey for 2024 has also included two other Indian cities this time. While Udaipur came in second place as a global destination for tourism and leisure, Jaipur's rank is 21st.
The CM's social media post read: "It is a moment of immense pride to see Kolkata receiving global recognition on multiple fronts! Ranked by Travel + Leisure as one of the world's best cities (ranked 19th in the world), acknowledged by Savills' Growth Hubs Index for its rapid development (ranked 11th in the world), and also recognized for achieving one of the best air quality indices among major metros worldwide (2nd best metro in the world in May AQI) by IIT Delhi. Kolkata truly shines as a beacon of progress…"
The international magazine authority conducts the survey every year, asking readers to weigh in on their travel experiences around the globe. This year, nearly 1.9 lakh readers reportedly completed the survey, and a total of more than seven lakh votes were cast across 8,700 properties, including hotels and cruise lines. The criteria for rating by readers included landmarks/sights, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and value.
The city's ranking in the global survey has brought cheers to the tour and travel operators. Anil Punjabi, National Committee Member of the Travel Agents Federation of India, said, "We look forward to welcoming more international tourists to experience the unique charm of Kolkata."
Debjit Dutta, Chairman of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, West Bengal chapter, said, "This accolade strengthens our continued effort to position Kolkata as one of the prime destinations for world tourism." MSID:: 114698650 413 |