Bengal in top tourism destinations list, CM praises feat
The Statesman | 27 November 2025
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated the state government officials and tourism stakeholders after Bengal emerged as one of the most favoured international tourist destinations in the country, according to the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025 published by the ministry of tourism.
In her X handle she wrote: “Proud to share that West Bengal has emerged as one of the most favoured international tourist destinations in the country and has achieved another great milestone. In the recently released India Tourism Data Compendium 2025 by the ministry of Tourism, West Bengal has attracted the 2nd highest foreign tourist footfall in the country.”
She said in the post-Covid era, the state government had taken a slew of measures to promote tourism which included festival tourism, religious tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions among others. “I invite both domestic and foreign tourists to visit West Bengal, the sweetest part of India and experience its beauty, culture and heritage,” she said.
After coming to power in 2011, she visited Jhargram , a centre of Maoist activities to win the confidence of people. Infrastructure was improved and now Jhargram is attracting tourists round the year. Now there are more than 100 registered government and private accommodations and homestays. Homestays have become popular in Darjeeling. Bankura and Purulia have become tourist destinations.
In Kolkata, various groups have started heritage walks, where both domestic and foreign tourists are taken around the city to see and find out about the heritage sites. Religious tourism is becoming increasingly popular, where the tourists are taken to visit the terracotta temples of Bishnupur and Guptipara in Hooghly district. The temples are being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
A new tourist destination has been set up at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri district.