📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Joydeep
Travel
West Bengal tallies tourist arrivals, calls for measuring economic value
✍️ ET Hospitality
🗓 31 Aug 2026, 06:18 PM
👁 663
West Bengal's tourism authorities have released the latest count of visitors, while industry analysts stress the need to assess the sector's economic contribution.
The tourism department of West Bengal has published the latest figures on the number of domestic and international visitors to the state. The data, compiled from hotel registrations and transport records, shows a steady rise in footfall over the past year.
Industry observers, however, argue that merely counting visitors does not capture the true benefit to the state's economy. They suggest that policymakers should also track revenue generated from accommodation, dining, transport and ancillary services.
Stakeholders in the hospitality sector, including hotel chains and travel agencies, have welcomed the transparency of visitor statistics but echo the call for a comprehensive valuation framework. Such an approach, they say, would help attract further investment and guide infrastructure planning.
The state government has indicated that future tourism reports will incorporate economic indicators alongside visitor counts, aiming to provide a fuller picture of the sector's contribution to West Bengal's growth.
Industry observers, however, argue that merely counting visitors does not capture the true benefit to the state's economy. They suggest that policymakers should also track revenue generated from accommodation, dining, transport and ancillary services.
Stakeholders in the hospitality sector, including hotel chains and travel agencies, have welcomed the transparency of visitor statistics but echo the call for a comprehensive valuation framework. Such an approach, they say, would help attract further investment and guide infrastructure planning.
The state government has indicated that future tourism reports will incorporate economic indicators alongside visitor counts, aiming to provide a fuller picture of the sector's contribution to West Bengal's growth.