West Bengal Breaks Tourism Record with 18.5 Crore Visitors in 2024- GetBengal story

West Bengal witnessed an all-time high in tourism, both domestic and foreign, last year, with 18.5 crore visitors, placing the state among India's top destinations, Tourism Minister Indranil Sen announced in the state assembly.

The number marks a significant rise from 14.5 crore in 2023 and 8.4 crore in 2022.Despite stringent travel restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens since August 2024, Bengal exceeds tourism giants Kerala and Rajasthan, with its diverse attractions, affordability, and improved infrastructure. Industry experts credit government initiatives and state-supported events for this surge.

The state currently boasts 5,322 homestays, with efforts underway to enhance service quality through training programmes. Authorities are also promoting "cultural tourism" by strengthening homestay infrastructure. 

West Bengal's tourism includes the Himalayas in the north, the Sundarbans delta, colonial-era landmarks in Kolkata, and coastal destinations like Digha and Mandarmani. Iconic sites such as the Victoria Memorial, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and Bishnupur's Terracotta Temples continue to attract domestic and international travellers. According to the State Tourism Minister Indranil Sen, several new tourism destinations are rising in Bengal, including Khairabera and Muruguma, where new tourism properties have come up and become very popular. 

The state government is focusing on religious tourism in 400 religious spots across the state. The state minister pointed out such religious tourist destinations in Shantiniketan, Hooghly, Jhargram, and North Bengal. Notably, the West Bengal government has built a huge Jagannath temple in Digha, which will be inaugurated in April this year. 

With festivals like Durga Puja and unique culinary delights like Rôshogolla and Patisapta, Bengal's cultural and historical richness further strengthens its status as a top-tier tourist destination.