The state tourism department will start a comprehensive survey on tourist inflow from January 2022 and collect allied information to assess the growth of the sector.

“In the past two years, no such survey could be conducted owing to the pandemic situation. Recently, the department decided on a survey and information was passed to the administrations of all districts it. It will be a district-level survey that the administration will conduct in association with an agency. Later, the data will be collated for statewide figures,” said Jyoti Ghosh, the joint director of tourism in north Bengal.

Sources in the tourism department said that so far, only the number of tourists at different destinations was counted and revenue earning estimates was made.

The new survey will be more extensive than earlier ones.

“For example, according to the earlier surveys, in 2014, 4.9 crore domestic tourists and 13.75 lakh foreign ones had visited Bengal which had then increased to 8.56 crore and 16.1 lakh, respectively, in 2018. However, in the new survey, along with usual destinations, information on inflow of tourists in homestay accommodations, religious and historical places would be collected. We will gather data about tourists who have visited the state during fairs and religious festivals or had been to the state for trekking or expeditions,” said a source.

Through the upcoming survey, the tourism department will also try to find out if the new destinations such as Lamahatta in Darjeeling and “Bhorer Alo”, the mega tourism hub in Gajoldoba near the Teesta Barrage in Jalpaiguri district, for example, are drawing visitors.

“So far, the information (for earlier surveys) was gathered from government and private accommodations in the prominent tourist spots. But this time, data would be collected from various other sources as well,” the source added.

These new trends apart, another aspect of the survey will be stress on the quality of the services given to the tourists.

Those who conduct the survey will also collect information about the facilities which tourists seek in a destination, whether they had to face any inconvenience during their trip in Bengal, and most importantly the quality of services provided by the stakeholders of the sector.

“Mobile apps and other software will be used to collect and collate data. The idea is to gather adequate information so that in future the findings can be analysed to frame appropriate policies and necessary initiatives can be taken to increase tourists flow to the state,” said an official.