Patna, June 9: Bihar is growing as a hotspot for tourists. According to the tourism department, the inflow of foreign tourists to the state increased by 50 per cent and that of domestic tourists has increased by 20 per cent, as compared to last year.
“There has been a significant rise in the number of tourists as the tourism department is ensuring the best hospitality for them. This year, the department has sanctioned Rs 3043.89 lakh for different tourism schemes such as installation of sound and lights at Ganga ghats, more river cruises — floating moonlight cruises, and other big and small cruises — 50 roadside amenity facilities on national/state highways across the state, development of rural resort complexes and development of government and private hotels. Chief minister Nitish Kumar is personally making tours in foreign countries, including Bhutan and Nepal, for tourism promotion,” said Sunil Kumar Pintu, the state tourism department minister, during a press meet.
According to the department officials, there are a number of schemes in the pipeline to lure more tourists. “The department is adopting a four-way approach to promote tourism in the state. First, we are focusing on the accommodation facilities for tourists, wherein we are inviting private players to develop hotels and lodges, and in the meantime, the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) would develop its own world-class hotels. We are also developing transportation facilities in the state wherein 60-70 AC buses would start plying between different tourist circles in the state by the end of July. The facility of radio taxis would also be available in Patna from August 15,” said Deepak Kumar, principal secretary of department of tourism.
He added: “We are also working on a proposal for special trains by BSTDC from northeast region to Patna, Rajgir and other tourist spots every weekend. We are planning to start similar special trains from Chennai. We are in talks with private airlines to extend their flights to Bodhgaya airport. At present, only seasonal flights operate from Bodhgaya airport. Besides, we are also working on the development of existing tourist sites and promoting night tourism, wherein sound and lighting facilities are proposed at Rajgir, Bodhgaya and Golghar. We are working on the development of Mahendru Ghat where river sports, river fountain and sound and lighting facilities would be available in four to five years.”
From the total sanctioned budget for this year, the department would spend a total Rs 1651.32 lakh on development and beautification of important tourist places.
The tourism minister, while addressing the news meet, announced that the chief minister has agreed to declare May 12 as Sita Navami, a gazetted holiday from next year. Kumar said he had informed Nitish that May 12 was the day when Sita, according to mythology, decided to go into the lap of mother Earth.
