Bengal tourism is set for a district-focused push, with the state government planning a tea festival at Sandakphu in Darjeeling and a palash flower festival in Purulia, while tightening regulatory checks on homestays and other tourism businesses across the state.
Tourism minister Shankar Ghosh announced the proposals at a meeting with tourism-industry stakeholders at Chalsa in Jalpaiguri’s Matiali block on Saturday. He said the initiatives were intended to highlight the distinctive attractions of individual districts and promote local tourism within Bengal and beyond.
The proposed Sandakphu tea festival is expected to be held alongside a vintage car rally. In Purulia, the department is proposing a festival centred on the seasonal blooming of palash, also known as Bengal Kino. The minister said the state was working to promote Bengal as a global tourist destination and would participate in a tourism exhibition in London in December.
Ghosh also said corporate groups had expressed interest in tourism-related projects across the state. According to the minister, investment proposals received so far total ₹12,624 crore. He said these investments could strengthen local economies and create employment opportunities, although the statement did not provide details on the projects, their locations, approval status or implementation timelines.
The meeting also focused on compliance and visitor safety. Referring to a recent incident in which a woman suffered burns after a barbecue caught fire at a homestay in Sittong, Ghosh said an inspection had found several violations, including the absence of required licences. He directed tourism businesses to complete digital registration through the department’s website.
The minister said inspections would examine requirements including trade licences, fire-safety compliance and registration. Where deficiencies are found, he warned that strict action would follow, similar to the action taken against the Sittong property. The state’s tourism industry policy and homestay policy have been submitted to the Assembly, he added.
The directions place homestays and small tourism properties within a wider administrative framework that links destination promotion with licensing, fire safety and registration. For visitors, compliance will determine whether tourism growth is accompanied by basic safety and operating standards. For local businesses, the proposed enforcement could make digital registration and documentation central to continued operations.
Ghosh asked Jalpaiguri district magistrate Aditi Chaudhary to identify a tourism destination in the district and submit a detailed report to the department. He also asked district police chief Sujata Binapani to introduce a tourist helpline for visitors needing assistance.
The minister described Jalpaiguri as a district with forests, wildlife, heritage sites and religious destinations, but noted that it does not yet have a five-star hotel. He called for a comprehensive plan to increase the district’s attractions and raise tourist footfall. Representatives of hotels and resorts, tourist guides, drivers and administrative departments attended the meeting.
The next steps announced by the department are the identification of a Jalpaiguri destination, preparation of a detailed report, introduction of a tourist helpline and continued inspections of tourism establishments. The proposed festivals and the investment proposals remain subject to further planning and implementation details.
