Suvendu Adhikari unveils new West Bengal tourism logo and plans ₹500 crore sector boost

West Bengal is putting a ₹500 crore tourism package behind a new logo and brand identity, as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari acknowledged that the state has fallen behind its neighbours in attracting visitors.

“We have destroyed the tourism infrastructure in our state even as other states have moved forward. Tourists pass through West Bengal to reach Sikkim. More than Darjeeling and Kalimpong they prefer Gangtok. We have to come out of this,” Adhikari said at the unveiling programme.

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We have destroyed the tourism infrastructure in our state even as other states have moved forward. Tourists pass through West Bengal to reach Sikkim. More than Darjeeling and Kalimpong they prefer Gangtok. We have to come out of this.

He said the state had allocated around ₹500 crore for tourism in the 2026-27 budget. The plans include strengthening the state tourism development corporation, increasing its manpower and renovating tourist lodges and guest houses. Adhikari also stressed the need to improve road and other connections to tourist destinations.

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We are strengthening the state tourism development corporation. Discussions have been held at the state secretariat. We have allocated around ₹500 crore for the tourism sector in the 2026-2027 budget. Steps are being taken to increase the manpower.

The government is exploring central funding and has decided to introduce water metro services on the Hooghly River. It is procuring at least 11 boats to carry tourists to the Sundarbans and Ganga Sagar. Adhikari said the boats could also be used during disasters.

He further announced plans to release tigers in Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2 as part of efforts to promote tourism in north Bengal. Forest officials reported a tiger sighting in the reserve in December 2021, after an absence of almost two decades. They had found scat and pugmarks in the early 2000s, but said the last photographic evidence dated to the late 1990s.

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We are exploring on how to boost tourism in the state with funds from the centre. A decision was taken to introduce water metro in the River Hooghly. We are in the process of procuring at least 11 boats which would ferry tourists to Sunderbans and Ganga Sagar. These boats would also come handy during disasters.