Geriatric-Friendly Tourism Proposal in West Bengal Gets High-Priority Assurance
By Antara Tripathy, Editor, IBG NEWS
Kolkata, July 24, 2026: In a forward-looking initiative aimed at making tourism more inclusive, a comprehensive proposal to develop Geriatric-Friendly Tourism in West Bengal has received assurance of high-priority consideration from the State Tourism Department.
The proposal, submitted by Banchbo Healing Touch Foundation, was discussed during a meeting at the New Secretariat Building with Mr. Hirak Mondal, Executive PS to the Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge of Tourism, Dr. Shankar Ghosh. Officials confirmed that the proposal would be placed before the Minister for detailed review and consideration on priority.
The delegation was led by Dr. Dhires Kumar Chowdhury, a noted geriatrician and Founder Director of the organisation, along with Mr. Apurba Ghosh, Promotional Manager. As the Hon’ble Minister was attending the Legislative Assembly session, the delegation also handed over a Token of Recognition Certificate addressed to him through his office.
The proposal outlines an integrated model combining tourism with geriatric healthcare, caregiving services, and structured support systems tailored for senior citizens. Key features include pre-tour health assessments, trained caregivers and medical escorts, emergency preparedness, and senior-friendly transport and accommodation. It also envisions curated tourism experiences covering wellness, cultural, heritage, spiritual, and nature-based destinations.
Significantly, the initiative places strong emphasis on youth skill development and employment generation. The plan proposes structured training programs in caregiving, geriatric support, first aid, and tourism assistance, creating a dual impact of elderly care and livelihood opportunities.
Banchbo Healing Touch Foundation has already been conducting specialised elderly-friendly tours for the past four years across destinations such as Sundarban, Purulia, Murshidabad, and Madhupur. These tours have incorporated medical supervision, medication management, and multidisciplinary caregiving support, demonstrating the practical viability of the model.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Chowdhury expressed satisfaction over the positive response, stating that the integration of tourism with healthcare and caregiving could open a new dimension in West Bengal’s tourism sector. He further noted that such an approach would promote healthy ageing, social engagement, and inclusive growth.
The organisation remains optimistic that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, West Bengal could emerge as a pioneer in senior-citizen-centric tourism, setting an example for the rest of the country.
