Following the impending resumption of Indian tourist visas, businessmen in Kolkata’s famous “Mini Bangladesh” district have decided to keep hotel rates and shopping expenses affordable for Bangladeshi tourists.
​The traders believe that restoring visitor trust is far more important than instantly recovering the massive losses suffered over the past two years.
​The move follows a recent announcement by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi regarding the reopening of tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens.
This news has revived hopes among businesses on Marquis Street, Sudder Street, Free School Street, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and Colin Street. The local hotels, restaurants, retail shops and foreign exchange counters rely heavily on visitors from the neighboring country.
​Representatives from hotel groups, transport networks, forex counters and retail associations finalized this strategy during a joint meeting. The tourism-dependent hub had been practically paralyzed by economic hardships for nearly two years. Traders noted that keeping prices fair is crucial to avoid driving tourists toward other travel destinations.
​Haider Ali Khan, general secretary of the Free School Street Traders Association, acknowledged the severe crisis they endured over the last two years but firmly rejected the idea of price gouging.
​”Now is not the time to think about recovering our losses overnight,” Khan said.
“If tourists feel they are receiving fair hospitality and value for their money, they will return again and encourage others to visit Kolkata. This mutual goodwill and trust mean much more to us than making a quick profit by hiking prices.”
​Afaque Shamim, co-secretary of the Calcutta Hotels, Guest Houses and Restaurants Owners Association, offered similar assurances. He welcomed the return of Bangladeshi tourists and promised they would receive the best services at fair prices just like before. Shamim emphasized their desire to build a long-term relationship that benefits both sides.
​Indian tourist visas were suspended following political changes and unrest in Bangladesh in 2024. The crisis forced hotels on Marquis and Sudder streets to slash their nightly room rates from 2,000 rupees to between 900 and 1,000 rupees. Despite the price drops, room bookings plummeted by about Bangladeshis
​Retail sales at New Market also saw a sharp decline since a large portion of their revenue came from Bangladeshi shoppers. According to a Times of India report citing local business groups, total financial losses in the “Mini Bangladesh” area alone exceeded 1,000 crore rupees.
Source: The Times of India
