West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday unveiled a new logo and brand identity for the state’s tourism sector. He also announced plans to invest around ₹500 crore in tourism in the 2026-27 financial year. The state government aims to improve tourism infrastructure, connectivity and facilities for visitors across West Bengal.

Speaking at the programme after launching the new logo, Adhikari said the state needs to rebuild its tourism infrastructure and attract more visitors. He pointed to the growing preference for destinations in neighbouring states and said West Bengal must work to reverse the trend.

“We have destroyed the tourism infrastructure in our state even as other states have moved forward. Tourists pass through West Bengal to reach Sikkim. More than Darjeeling and Kalimpong, they prefer Gangtok. We have to come out of this,” he said.

Adhikari said the government is taking steps to strengthen the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. Discussions on the matter have already taken place at the state secretariat. The government has allocated around ₹500 crore for tourism in the 2026-27 budget. It also plans to increase manpower in the tourism department and related agencies.

The chief minister said the state will also focus on improving accommodation for tourists. Plans are being prepared to renovate tourist lodges and guest houses across West Bengal. He stressed that better connectivity to tourist destinations is necessary to support tourism growth.

The government is also looking at financial support from the Centre to expand tourism infrastructure. Adhikari said West Bengal is exploring different ways to use central funds for tourism-related projects and improve facilities at major tourist destinations.

A major part of the plan involves developing water-based transport on the Hooghly River. Adhikari said the government has decided to introduce a water metro service on the Hooghly. The state is also procuring at least 11 boats to ferry tourists to the Sunderbans and Ganga Sagar.

The boats will have a role beyond tourism and help in disasters and emergencies, giving the state an additional transport option during such situations.

The government is also looking to strengthen wildlife tourism in north Bengal. Adhikari announced that tigers would be released in Buxa Tiger Reserve on October 2. The move is expected to support tourism efforts in the region and strengthen Buxa as a wildlife destination.

Buxa Tiger Reserve has a long history of tiger presence, but sightings had become rare for several years. A tiger was spotted there in December 2021 after almost two decades. Forest officials had earlier reported finding tiger scats and pugmarks in the reserve during the early 2000s. However, the last photographic evidence of a tiger in the reserve dated back to the late 1990s.

The new tourism plan comes as the West Bengal government looks to improve the state’s position as a tourist destination. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, the Sunderbans, Ganga Sagar and Buxa are among the destinations with significant tourism potential. The government’s focus will now be on improving infrastructure, accommodation, connectivity and tourist services while also developing new ways to promote the state.

The launch of the new tourism logo is part of this broader effort to create a stronger identity for West Bengal as a tourism destination. Along with the proposed ₹500 crore investment, the government plans to strengthen its tourism corporation, expand manpower, renovate tourist facilities, improve transport links and develop new tourism projects. The planned water metro and boat services are also expected to improve access to river-based destinations.

With these measures, the state government aims to make travel within West Bengal easier and improve the overall experience for tourists. The focus on wildlife tourism, river transport and existing destinations is also expected to give the state’s tourism sector a wider range of attractions.