While West Bengal has recently been in the headlines over the ongoing political row surrounding the SIR (voter list revision), Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government has registered a remarkable success in a completely different area. According to the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025, released by the Ministry of Tourism, West Bengal has become the second most-preferred Indian state for foreign tourists, standing only behind Maharashtra.
The report highlights that West Bengal attracted 31 lakh foreign tourists in 2024, marking a 14.8% increase compared to the 27 lakh foreign visitors in 2023. The growth momentum continued strongly in 2025 as well, with the state welcoming 27.11 lakh foreign tourists between January and June alone, setting the stage for a new all-time record.
What makes the achievement more striking is that the top tourist-producing countries—USA (80,647), Russia (79,758), UK (77,792), and Italy (64,225)—do not have direct flight connectivity to Kolkata. Despite this, foreign tourist inflow continues to surge, reflecting West Bengal’s growing global appeal in culture, heritage, wildlife, and culinary tourism.
The increase in foreign arrivals has translated into significant revenue for the state, with tourism becoming one of the strongest contributors to the state exchequer. The report places Bengal ahead of major tourism-heavy states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, marking a major achievement for the Mamata Banerjee administration.
