Ask any Kolkatan where they go when the city gets too much, and you will hear the same short list: Darjeeling in the Pujas, Digha on a long weekend, Mandarmani for the sea, Taki for a quiet night by the Ichamati, the Sundarbans when friends visit from out of town. Tomorrow, the state government will try to convince private investors that this list can be bigger, better run and easier to book.
West Bengal’s Tourism Department is hosting its first dedicated Tourism Investors’ Meet at Taj Bengal in Alipore on Sunday, September 27, to mark World Tourism Day. State Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh announced the event on Friday, and the government says it will use the day to unveil a pipeline of projects covering hotels, tea tourism, heritage, river transport, eco-tourism and adventure destinations.
What the State Is Putting on the Table
The meet runs under the theme “From Intent to Investment” and is expected to bring together hospitality chains, tourism companies and investment groups. According to the department, the agenda includes:
- A Tourism Growth Roadmap setting out investment opportunities across the state, from business hotels to North Bengal resorts, heritage, leisure and wellness projects.
- A proposed Tourism Industry Benefit Scheme, meant to turn tourism’s industry status into a package of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for private players.
- A direct investor interaction session with the government, led by Minister Shankar Ghosh.
- A new state tourism website, to be launched at the event, followed later by an integrated tourism app for information and services.
The Headline Projects
Darjeeling-Kurseong-Mirik as the lead destination
The hills belt has been positioned as Bengal’s lead global destination. At its centre is a plan to develop Mirik Lake as a spiritual and eco-tourism destination, with Rs 57 crore sanctioned by the Centre under the Swadesh Darshan scheme.
The Sundarbans as the second global destination
The mangrove delta, already the most popular overnight trip from Kolkata for first-time visitors, has been proposed as the state’s second global destination.
Seven possible ropeways
The state is studying seven ropeway locations. The North Bengal proposals named so far are Delo-Relli, Swiss Cottage-Mirik Lake, Rohini-Giddapahar, Upper Batasia and a Rock Garden-Ganga Maya Park corridor near Darjeeling.
108 religious tourism circuits
Religious tourism is being widened into 108 circuits with more than 400 touch points. The focus, the department says, is on basics that travellers notice immediately: amenities, accessibility, signage and cleaner destinations.
New WBTDCL properties closer to home
New state-run tourism properties are planned at Taki, Nabadwip, Cooch Behar and Purulia. Tenders for preparing detailed project reports are expected to go out before the Puja season. For Kolkata families, Taki and Nabadwip in particular are easy weekend trips, so better government stays there would be a practical gain.
The department has also asked elected representatives and other stakeholders for local tourism proposals, and says it has received suggestions from 39 MLAs so far.
Why This Matters for Kolkata
Kolkata is the gateway for almost every trip in the state. Most visitors to Darjeeling, the Sundarbans or Digha pass through Howrah, Sealdah or the airport first, and a good number stay a night or two in the city. More hotel investment and better-connected circuits usually translate into more business for Kolkata’s travel agents, cab operators, restaurants and guides.
The timing also lines up with the festive season. The state is already planning a large Durga Puja launch at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya and a first-ever beach festival at Digha on Panchami (read our report on the Mahalaya 2026 Eden Gardens plans), and officials want tourists to see Bengal as a destination beyond the Puja week itself.
Tips for Travellers Planning a Puja Break
- Book only through official channels. Once the new state tourism website goes live, check government stays there or on the existing WBTDCL booking portal, and be wary of lookalike websites and social media pages taking advance payments.
- Book early for the hills. Darjeeling, Kurseong and Mirik fill up fast in October, and the new projects will take years to add capacity.
- Treat project names as plans, not openings. Ropeways and new properties announced tomorrow are at the proposal or DPR stage. Do not plan a trip around them yet.
- Consider the short trips. Taki, Nabadwip and the Sundarbans are all doable from Kolkata in a weekend, and are a good option if the hills are sold out.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the West Bengal Tourism Investors’ Meet?
It is scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026, World Tourism Day, at Taj Bengal in Kolkata.
Is the investors’ meet open to the public?
No. It is an industry event for hospitality, tourism and investment groups. The new tourism website being launched there will be available to everyone.
How much has been sanctioned for Mirik Lake?
Rs 57 crore, sanctioned by the Centre under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, to develop Mirik Lake as a spiritual and eco-tourism destination.
Where are the new WBTDCL tourism properties planned?
At Taki, Nabadwip, Cooch Behar and Purulia. Tenders for detailed project reports are expected before the Pujas.
Are the ropeways approved?
Not yet. The state is examining seven possible locations. They are proposals at this stage.
The Bottom Line
Bengal has never lacked places worth visiting. What it has often lacked is the hotels, access and upkeep to match. Tomorrow’s meet at Taj Bengal is the state’s pitch to private capital to fix that, from a Mirik Lake makeover and hill ropeways to new stays at Taki and Nabadwip. For Kolkatans, the near-term change to watch for is the new tourism website and app. The bigger projects will take longer, so judge them by what actually breaks ground over the next year.
Sources: Announcement by West Bengal Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh on September 25, 2026, as reported by The Statesman and Millennium Post; event date and venue cross-checked with Dainik Jagran’s English service.
Featured image: A tea garden in Darjeeling, photo by Rudra Gupta on Unsplash.
