West Bengal plans blue carbon economy in Sunderbans and environment-friendly tourism: minister

West Bengal's tourism minister told the assembly the state will form an inter-ministerial group with the Forest Department to ensure tourism does not harm the environment. A key part of the plan is building a blue carbon economy in the Sunderbans, which involves storing carbon in mangroves and coastal ecosystems. The state also aims to develop Darjeeling and Sunderbans or Mandarmoni as global destinations under a national program, and is launching a Revamp Homestay 2026 policy for areas like Darjeeling and Kalimpong. The budget for the Tourism Department in 2026-27 is INR 527.84 crore. The minister noted that previous years saw low spending, with only INR 132 crore used out of INR 521 crore in 2024-25. The state also plans to set up a MICE Promotion Bureau to make Kolkata a hub for meetings and conferences, targeting INR 2,000 crore in business. A helpline and app for travelers are being developed as well. The focus on blue carbon and eco-tourism could have implications for carbon markets and climate finance if implemented effectively.