West Bengal has quietly pulled off a tourism milestone—becoming India’s second most visited state by foreign travelers, surpassing traditional favourites like Rajasthan and Goa. According to the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025, the state recorded 31 lakh international visitors in 2024, marking a 14.8% year-on-year jump. The US, Russia, UK, and Italy are among the top inbound markets, highlighting Bengal’s expanding global appeal.

A Dramatic Leap

From 27 lakh foreign tourists in 2023 to 31 lakh in 2024, West Bengal’s tourism growth is outpacing national trends. Even more striking, over 27 lakh foreign visitors arrived between January–June 2025 alone, signaling sustained global demand.

Festival Tourism Is the Game-Changer

West Bengal has turned its cultural strengths into global assets. Kolkata’s Durga Puja—now a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage event—has become an international attraction, with curated experiences, premium hospitality packages, and heritage trails that appeal to long-haul travelers. The calendar now features Kali Puja, Christmas in Park Street, tribal festivals, and rural cultural fairs, giving Bengal year-round visibility.

A Diverse Tourism Portfolio

Unlike states dependent on a single tourism product, Bengal sells multiple circuits in one itinerary:

• Darjeeling, Kalimpong & Mirik — classic Himalayan hill destinations and tea tourism hubs.
• Sundarbans — the world’s largest mangrove forest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Shantiniketan — Tagore’s cultural ecosystem and a UNESCO cultural landscape.
• Tajpur, Digha & Mandarmani — emerging coastal leisure zones.

This diversity allows foreign travelers to experience heritage, wildlife, tea gardens, eco-tourism, beaches, and religious attractions without leaving the state.

Kolkata: The Gateway That Sets Bengal Apart

The capital city has rebranded itself as Eastern India’s culture capital.
Heritage walks, food tours, museums, riverfront experiences along the Hooghly, literature and cinema culture, and a fast-rising nightlife scene give Kolkata urban appeal at a fraction of the cost of Mumbai or Delhi.

Policy, Branding & Smart Tourism Strategy

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee credits the surge to deliberate strategies:

• Festival tourism and religious circuits
• Heritage tourism clusters
• MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)
• Homestay and tea-tourism expansion

Even without direct flights from several source markets, Bengal is winning through branding, connectivity upgrades, and curated traveler experiences. Riverfront development, airport modernization, new beach corridors, and Sundarbans infrastructure investments are enhancing accessibility and safety.

A Shift in India’s Tourist Landscape

While Bangladesh historically dominated inbound numbers, arrivals from Bangladesh dropped from 21.2 lakh in 2023 to 17.5 lakh in 2024. Meanwhile, Bengal’s international visitors increasingly hail from Europe, the Americas, and Russia, reflecting a pivot toward higher-value global tourism.

Value + Experience = Competitive Advantage

West Bengal offers strong value for money—a major differentiator for long-stay tourists. Affordable boutique hotels, internal travel, gastronomy, and local experiences create a premium-on-a-budget brand identity that resonates with European and North American travelers.

West Bengal’s surge is not accidental—it’s strategic.
Heritage + festivals + eco-tourism + affordable premium experiences + focused branding = India’s new global tourism powerhouse. The numbers suggest the story has only begun.