Calcutta Travel Goes Viral
Traveler Damon Zumbroegel's description of landing in Calcutta as a "mind-flipping experience" where "nothing was normal" has garnered 43 likes and 1,194 views. His account of the city blending past and future in vibrant urban life reflects the growing trend toward offbeat, immersive travel destinations.
The city's name was officially changed from Calcutta to Kolkata in January 2001. This was part of a broader movement in India to replace colonial-era names with those rooted in local languages and to reflect the regional identity; "Kolkata" aligns with the Bengali pronunciation of the city's name. The appeal of destinations like Kolkata reflects a larger 2024 travel trend of seeking "off-the-beaten-path" adventures. Travelers are increasingly avoiding traditional tourist hotspots due to overcrowding and rising costs, instead prioritizing more authentic, experiential, and immersive cultural engagements. This trend has benefited West Bengal, which became the second most popular destination in India for international tourists, attracting 3.1 million visitors in 2024. This represents a 14.8% increase from the 2.7 million international visitors in 2023. On average, about 8,000 foreign tourists visit West Bengal every day. The state has seen significant private investment in its tourism sector, with INR 5,710 crore invested in 2024, leading to the development of 42 new luxury hotels. West Bengal also leads India in the number of registered homestays. However, the city's tourism economy has faced recent challenges. A sharp decline in visitors from Bangladesh has negatively impacted the hospitality and retail sectors in areas like New Market, forcing some hotels to slash room rates by as much as 50%. The drop in tourism from Bangladesh is linked to India's High Commission in the country ceasing to issue tourist visas since August 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime. This has led to a dramatic fall in daily sales for local shopkeepers who were heavily reliant on Bangladeshi customers. To bolster the tourism sector, new initiatives are being explored, including the promotion of river tourism in collaboration with the Kolkata Port. Plans are underway to develop a world-class river cruise terminal and enhance riverfront areas to attract both international and domestic visitors.
