BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA | 30 SEPTEMBER 2026
In a strategic push to elevate West Bengal’s tourism profile globally, the state government has initiated high-level consultations with Bolywood’s Disco Dancer and national award-winning actor, former MP, and newly appointed Cultural Adviser of state, Mithun Chakraborty. The move follows a directive from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to tap into the actor’s extensive public appeal and vision for the state’s economic and cultural growth.
The state government aims to unlock the full potential of West Bengal’s diverse topography—which uniquely combines majestic mountains, dense forests, and pristine coastlines—alongside its globally renowned culinary heritage and tradition. Moving beyond traditional outreach, the Tourism Department is leaning heavily on the Mithun Chakraborty to formulate a modern, sustainable blueprint for the state.
High-Level Strategy Session at Nabanna on Tuesday:
A crucial, high-level meeting was convened on Tuesday at the New Secretariat (Nabanna) between Mithun Chakraborty and key cabinet members. The administrative discussion was spearheaded by Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, alongside, Manoj Kumar Oraon, Forest and Environment Minister,Bishal Lama, Minister of State for Home & Hill Affairs,Purnima Chakraborty, Minister of State for Tourism, Information, and Cultural Affairs. Barun Roy, ACS Tourism was also present.
Focus Areas: Dooars and Sundarbans Re-imagined:
The primary focus of the meeting centered on the systemic infrastructure development of the Dooars and the Sundarbans. According to administrative sources, Chakraborty submitted several key proposals to transform these ecological hotspots.
His vision emphasizes eco-tourism initiatives, such as expanding unique tree-house accommodations in the Dooars and creating premium, sustainably built floating resorts across designated island sectors in the Sundarbans. The ultimate goal of the initiative, as underscored by the ministers, is to generate massive employment opportunities for local youth while preserving the state’s cultural identity and biodiversity.
“We had an extensive discussion today on how to unlock the massive tourism potential hidden in West Bengal, particularly across North Bengal and our beautiful hill stations. Our focus is clear: we need to build new tourist destinations, improve existing infrastructure, and find innovative ways to put Bengal on every traveler’s radar. When tourism thrives, the local economy thrives. This expansion will directly generate jobs for local communities and open up critical employment avenues for our youth,” said Dr. Shankar Ghosh.
West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh Meets Actor Mithun Chakraborty to Draft State’s New Eco-Tourism and Employment Roadmap:
In a bid to upgrade infrastructure and boost local employment through the state’s travel sector, West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh held a high-level consultative meeting with veteran actor and prominent personality Mithun Chakraborty. The discussion focused on several key development proposals aimed at modernising popular travel destinations and maximizing the economic potential of North Bengal, the hills, and coastal ecological zones.
According to administrative sources, significant proposals were raised during the meeting to elevate the visitor experience for travelers heading to the Sunderban. These include the introduction of modern, state-of-the-art tourist boats and the construction of superior-quality jetties to ensure safer and more convenient transits. Additionally, the meeting highlighted plans to leverage the raw natural beauty of the Dooars region by expanding the network of eco-friendly tree-houses.
The primary objective of this overhauled vision remains local economic empowerment. Following the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Shankar Ghosh expressed his optimism about collaborating with Mithun Chakraborty. ” The national award-winning actor wants to heavily focus on tourism so that more local people can secure gainful employment,” Dr. Shankar Ghosh stated. “We are fully committed to beautifying the state’s tourism industry and are actively incorporating his valuable advice. We have requested Mithun Chakraborty to come forward and prominently help promote Bengal tourism.”
The tourism minister later took to social media to share highlights of the roadmap. He emphasized that there is massive untapped potential across North Bengal and the surrounding hilly areas and the department is outlining strategies to harness these resources efficiently. With the overarching goal of attracting a record number of domestic and international tourists, the state administration believes that integrating the insights of an experienced personality like Mithun Chakraborty will mark a historic milestone on West Bengal’s tourism map.
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