The inauguration of the Jagannath temple in April has significantly boosted Digha’s tourism, with hotel bookings rising by 20%. Over two million visitors have flocked to the coastal town, primarily for short stays to offer prayers at the new temple, according to Bipradas Chatterjee, joint secretary of the Digha Hoteliers Association.
Around 90% of travelers are booking two-day stays, contributing to the increased occupancy across Digha’s 115 hotels in Old Digha and 600 properties in New Digha, Sankarpur, and Tajpur. However, stakeholders are cautiously optimistic about the long-term impact, stating that a full assessment will take six months to determine whether the surge is sustainable or a temporary effect.
The association has called for infrastructural improvements, including widening roads leading to the temple and maintaining consistent security measures throughout the year to manage large crowds during events like Rath Yatra.
Amid concerns of inflated room tariffs, the association has implemented stricter regulations, requiring hoteliers to display tariff boards to ensure fairness and transparency for visitors.
Efforts are underway with the state-run Digha Shankarpur Development Authority to address these challenges, aiming to position Digha as a premier destination for both religious and leisure tourism.
