LEAD NEWS: WEST BENGAL TO HOST FIRST MEGA TOURISM INVESTORS SUMMIT ON SEPT 27; ONLY PROJECTS ABOVE RS.100 CRORE INVITED

LEAD NEWS: WEST BENGAL TO HOST FIRST MEGA TOURISM INVESTORS SUMMIT ON SEPT 27; ONLY PROJECTS ABOVE RS.100 CRORE INVITED

BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY

KOLKATA | 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

In a bid to unlock the state’s massive tourism potential and generate large-scale employment, the West Bengal government will host its first-ever mega Tourism Investors Summit on 27 September 2026, aligning with World Tourism Day.

The high-profile conference, organized by the state tourism department, will be held at ‘The Bengal Crystal Room’ at Taj Bengal in Kolkata. A series of major new investment announcements for the state’s hospitality and travel infrastructure are expected to take centre stage.

West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh revealed that the summit is exclusively targeting ultra-high-net-worth projects. The state has strictly extended invitations to domestic and international investors who have concrete plans to invest over Rs.100 crore in West Bengal’s tourism industry.

“Our core vision moving forward is ‘investment from potential, and employment from investment,'” Minister Ghosh stated, emphasizing that the government aims to position tourism as a primary driver for state revenue and job creation. To mark the occasion, the department will officially celebrate the event as an ‘Investment Day Summit.’

The summit will see a diverse gathering of business leaders from India and abroad, including at least three major foreign investors who are expected to participate.

The government has already initiated several large-scale infrastructure projects to back its aggressive tourism push:

• Spiritual and Eco-Tourism: A Rs.57 crore project has been fast-tracked under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• Global Branding: The ‘One State, One Global Destination’ initiative is moving forward, targeting international travelers for the Sundarbans as well as the hill stations of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Mirik.
• Green Transit: To modernize water-based travel, the state is set to introduce a 100-passenger hybrid electric ferry to make river tourism more eco-friendly and appealing.

BENGAL TOURISM MAKES BIG LEAP:

GRSE Tie-up, New Jetties, ‘Temple Town’ status for Bishnupur, and 108 Religious Circuits on the Cards-

In a major push to overhaul the state’s tourism landscape, West Bengal Tourism Minister Sankar Ghosh announced that the state government has finalised its partnership with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) to upgrade riverine infrastructure. Under this collaboration, new tourist jetties will be constructed across key locations, including Kolkata, Barrackpore, Chandannagar, Hooghly, Ambika Kalna, Nadia, and Baranagar, to significantly boost river tourism.

• Alongside infrastructure upgrades, the department is pivoting toward district-based cultural tourism under the banner of ’13 Parvans (festivals) in 12 months’. The government plans to host at least one major festival in every district over the coming year, integrating prominent regional fairs like Paush Mela and Ras Mela into the mainstream tourism circuit to highlight local heritage.
• Furthermore, the government is drafting a comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR) to establish 108 religious circuits across the state. Concurrently, a specialised DPR is being formulated in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur to develop Bishnupur as a flagship ‘Temple Town’. These initiatives run alongside broader development blueprints targeting ropeway infrastructure, tribal tourism, heritage preservation, and the expansion of the state’s homestay ecosystem.
• Focus on Investment and Job Creation-

The state  Tourism Minister emphasised that the state is actively streamlining its regulatory environment, leveraging the existing homestay and industrial policies to attract private players. With a wave of eco-parks, new tourist hubs, and riverfront infrastructure underway, the government aims to pitch these opportunities to financiers at the upcoming Investors’ Summit on September 27. Officials remain optimistic that these capital inflows will act as a major economic catalyst, driving substantial revenue growth and generating extensive employment opportunities across West Bengal.