According to a PTI report, Sultan Ahmed, Union Minister of State for Tourism informed that the tourism sector is likely to get an 'industry' status in the forthcoming budget. Speaking recently at a seminar organised on tourism in Kolkata, Ahmed said, "We have demanded 'industry' status for tourism sector and the Ministry of Finance is scrutinising the proposal. We are hopeful to get it in this budget.

He added that the 'industry' status will help the tourism sector in a big way and it was a demand since long to boost private investment in the sector." Ahmed, a member of Trinamool Congress, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, MP, Congress alleged that the Left Front government in West Bengal did not gave due priority to tourism despite the state having much potential in this sector.