The West Bengal government has secured tourism investment commitments worth Rs. 125.34 bn, with the projects projected to create more than 22,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across tourism-related sectors. The commitments were announced at an investors’ meet hosted by the state government at Taj Bengal in Kolkata on World Tourism Day.

Held under the theme From Intent to Investment, the meeting focused on tourism infrastructure, investment opportunities and private-sector participation. The investment programme covers hotels, business accommodation, tea tourism, resorts, heritage properties, leisure facilities and wellness destinations.

Participating business groups include Ambuja Neotia Group, Apeejay Surendra Group, which operates The Park, KKG, EVARA Hospitality, MLA Group, Hilton & Beekay and Sonerio Hotels. Several proposals relate to North Bengal, with participation from Luxmi Tea Co., BLG Group, L.R. Agro, operating under ITC Mementos, Hurdeodass Co., Dzongri Properties, LBS Hotel & Resorts and Four Vedas Hotel & Resorts.

Other investors named by the government include Sree Balaji Group, Tulsa Group, Pomesh Health Care, Bari Kothi Heritage Hotels, Satya Spa & Resorts and Hotel Sonar Bangla Group. Their plans cover heritage tourism, wellness, leisure and accommodation facilities in different parts of the state.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, Minister of State for Tourism Purnima Chakraborty, Additional Chief Secretary Barun Kumar Roy, industrialist Harshvardhan Neotia, 36 other investors and industry representatives. The state also presented a digital tourism agenda incorporating artificial intelligence, or AI, for destination management, international outreach and visitor services.

Ghosh launched a bilingual digital platform and mobile application through which users can contact him, submit proposals and ideas, and lodge complaints. The government said it would develop emerging destinations and niche tourism products while promoting sustainable infrastructure and private investment, with the projects intended to strengthen tourism infrastructure and support employment generation.