West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that UNESCO has recognised the state as a premier destination for heritage tourism, highlighting that the sector has created employment opportunities for millions of young people.
In her speech in the assembly, Banerjee emphasised the state’s progress in religious, heritage, and tea tourism. “UNESCO has declared Bengal as a top destination for heritage tourism. We have undertaken major initiatives to develop heritage sites. We are also focusing on religious tourism by enhancing iconic places of worship, such as the Dakshineshwar temple and the Kalighat temple,” she said, according to PTI.
The Chief Minister also revealed that the construction of the Jagannath temple at Digha is nearing completion and will soon be open for devotees.
She said that the tourism sector has generated jobs for lakhs of youths and highlighted the state’s diverse attractions saying, “We have mountains, forests, and the Sunderbans. We are showcasing the unique features of each location. Thousands of hotels have also been built in tourist areas.”
Indranil Sen, the state’s tourism minister, mentioned that a “record” 2,489 homestays have opened across the state, with 65% of them located in North Bengal. Banerjee announced that a tender has been issued for the construction of a bridge over the Muriganga river in the Ganga Sagar Island, home to the annual Gangasagar Mela.
She remarked, “If the Kumbh Mela is the number one pilgrimage destination in the country, the Gangasagar Mela is the second, as it must be accessed by waterways,” suggesting that enhanced infrastructure would elevate this religious fair to the leading spot.