Kolkata: Warning that unplanned tourism could damage both the environment and the economy, Bengal tourism minister Shankar Ghosh said on Friday the state will adopt a sustainable, data-driven approach to tourism development by factoring in the carrying capacity of destinations before promoting large-scale investments. Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Ghosh said several popular destinations in the state were already showing signs of congestion and infrastructure stress.He cited the increasing travel time to Darjeeling and surrounding places like Lataguri and Kalimpong because of traffic bottlenecks as an example of why tourism growth needs to be carefully managed.“Tourism can generate short-term gains, but if it grows without discipline, it can have long-term consequences for the environment and the economy,” the minister said.He said the tourism department has planned to map existing tourism infrastructure to assess how many visitors each location could sustainably accommodate. The minister also announced that the state will unveil a new policy next month, offering both cash and non-cash incentives to attract hotel investments. The policy is being supported by an IIT Kharagpur-led study aimed at understanding tourist behaviour and travel preferences.According to the minister, the proposed policy will enable the govt to develop tourism products and infrastructure based on demand rather than assumptions, while avoiding the creation of underutilised assets. Alongside the industry policy, the tourism department is also preparing a comprehensive homestay policy.He also said the state was working with the Centre under the “One State, One Global Destination” initiative and had requested recognition for two destinations. While Darjeeling has secured the designation, the state is awaiting approval for the other.“The new govt in the state is bringing renewed energy and optimism.. Bengal will be showcased as a destination at the TTF after a gap of several years,” said Sanjiv Agarwal, founder and CEO of Fairfest Media, the organiser of the event.
