Review of Professional Management- A Journal of New Delhi Institute of Management

Sudipta Ghosh ¹, J. K. Das ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Commerce, Maharani Kasiswari College, Kolkata, IN
2 Department of Commerce, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

Tourism encompasses economic activities viz. accommodation, transportation, food and beverage, information dissemination and entertainments etc. This sector generates a large investment and financing opportunities. As per the estimate of the World Tourism Organisation, India is projected to become the world's fifth largest business travel destination. Indian tourism sector is expected to get USD 109.30 billion investment by 2020. The growth of tourism is heavily depended upon the availability and accessibility of financial resources over above the geographic attributes for tourist attractions. West Bengal, a state of India has a great scope to be the destination of tourism due to well developed communication links&strategic location ; above all its diversified and rich tourism resources such as mountains, sea, jungle, mangrove area, religious sites, heritage, culture, fairs and festivals. Developing tourism and attracting tourists need substantial financing investment. Tourism projects require large initial investment and then tourism business organisations/tourism entrepreneurs need funds for staring entreprises. This paper is an attempt to analyse and understand empirically the financial aspects of the tourism industry of West Bengal. The present study is based on both primary and secondary data. The scope of tourism investment and financing at different nodes of tourism development across West Bengal have been identified on the basis of published reports by the Central Government, the State Government and private institutions. Primary data on financial perspective have been gathered through a survey on selected tourism business organisations/tourism entrepreneurs located in West Bengal to understand their views and opinions regarding tourism in West Bengal. Findings of this paper related to problems and prospects of the financial aspects of tourism shall help to formulate strategy for tourism development in West Bengal at desired level.

Keywords

Tourism Industry, Tourism Financing, Tourism Investment, Strategy for Tourism.

Full Text