Kolkata: Traders across Kolkata’s ‘Mini Bangladesh’ have decided to keep prices reasonable for Bangladeshi visitors once tourism resumes, believing that rebuilding trust is more important than recovering two years of losses through steep tariff hikes.The decision follows Indian envoy to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi’s announcement that tourist visas for Bangladeshi citizens will resume, reviving hopes among businesses in the Marquis Street, Sudder Street, Free School Street, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and Collin Street belt, where hotels, eateries, retail shops and forex counters depend heavily on visitors from across the border.The decision, taken at a meeting of stakeholders from the hospitality, transport, foreign exchange and trading communities, reflects a significant shift in mindset after nearly two years of economic distress that crippled one of Kolkata’s biggest tourism-dependent business hubs.While the announcement on the resumption of tourist visas has lifted sentiment, traders said they are determined not to drive visitors away by overcharging at a time when Bangladeshi tourists have several alternative destinations to choose from.“We have all suffered immensely over the past two years, but this is not the time to think about making up losses overnight. If tourists feel they are being treated fairly and receive value for money, they will return and recommend Kolkata to others. That goodwill is far more valuable than any short-term gain from higher prices,” said Hyder Ali Khan, general secretary of Free School Street Traders’ Association.“We welcome the tourists to Kolkata and assure they will receive value for money like in the past. We want a long-term association that is mutually benificial,” said Afaque Shamim, assistant secretary of Calcutta Hotels, Guest Houses and Restaurants Owners’ Association.Following the suspension of tourist visas after Bangladesh’s 2024 political unrest, hotels that once charged around Rs 2,000 a night were forced to slash tariffs to Rs 900-Rs 1,000, while occupancy dropped by nearly 75%. Traders estimate business in New Market, where Bangladeshi visitors once accounted for a significant share of sales, fell sharply as well. Local business associations estimate losses of more than Rs 1,000 crore in the ‘Mini Bangladesh’ area alone.For traders across ‘Mini Bangladesh’, the priority now is no longer simply restoring business volumes but restoring Kolkata’s reputation as an affordable and welcoming destination.
