Travel now, post later: Kerala eyes Bengal for tourism boost
Times of India | 13 February 2026
Kolkata: Riding on a 10% rise in tourist inflow from Bengal last year, the tourism board of Kerala is intensifying its outreach in Kolkata and Bengal, positioning the state as a destination for mindful, experience-led travel under a new nationwide campaign titled ‘Travel Now, Post Later', while stressing that assembly elections, which will coincide with the peak summer vacation period this year, will not deter the tourism experience in Kerala.
"In 2024, we saw a 7.3% rise in tourist flow from Bengal since 2023. Last year, we saw roughly 10% growth, and we are looking forward to welcoming more tourists from Bengal in 2026," said Arun Kumar K, tourist information officer of the tourism board.
Kumar said the new campaign urges travellers to immerse themselves in destinations before sharing their experiences online. Kumar, who was in Kolkata as part of a series of roadshows, said: "We are looking for responsible tourists and are campaigning across Bengal, which ranks 10th among states from where we get the most number of visitors."
"We are framing new packages for budget tourists and are focussing more on village tourism, homestays, and adventure tourism. Targeting urban families, backpackers, as well as adventure seekers, we are promoting surfing, cycling, and paragliding," Kumar said.
Another tourism official said that among the cultural highlights is the Kochi–Muziris Biennale, running till March 31, which transformed Fort Kochi into a global hub for contemporary art.
Destinations such as Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Bekal are being spotlighted, alongside 33 heritage trails under the Muziris Heritage Project, he added.