Major Hospitality Expansion Announced for North Bengal

A significant boost to West Bengal's tourism economy was confirmed this week as Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and the Ambuja Neotia Group announced a joint investment of Rs 2,700 crore. According to reports from The Indian Express and TravelBiz Monitor, the expansion focuses on developing new hospitality properties in key North Bengal destinations, including Siliguri, Ghum, Kalimpong, and Lataguri. This move follows a strategic shift in state policy that now permits up to 15 percent of tea-estate land to be utilized for tourism-related activities, as noted by Ambuja Neotia chairman Harshavardhan Neotia. IHCL Managing Director Puneet Chhatwal highlighted that the investment is part of a long-term vision to cater to evolving domestic travel patterns, which increasingly favor self-drive holidays and extended stays. The project is expected to strengthen regional infrastructure and generate significant local employment opportunities. This announcement aligns with the state's broader efforts to professionalize the sector, including the recent launch of a government homestay portal to regulate and certify accommodation providers across the state.