Patna : The Bihar government reaffirmed its commitment to tourism development on Friday, outlining a raft of new initiatives and investment opportunities designed to boost visitor numbers and local employment.
At a press conference held at the Information Bhawan in Patna, Bihar’s Tourism Minister, Raju Kumar Singh, described tourism as “one of the main pillars” of the state’s economic and cultural development. “It not only establishes Bihar’s identity on the international stage but also plays a crucial role in creating local employment,” he said.
Singh highlighted that over 66 million tourists visited the state in 2024, with around 65 million domestic and 730,000 international travellers. He credited this steady growth to the state government’s push to improve infrastructure and modernise visitor experiences, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The tourism department announced that new projects worth Rs 1,328 crore have been approved for the 2024–25 fiscal year. Among them are major infrastructure developments in Patna, including the construction of three five-star hotels under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Tenders have been floated for projects on the sites of Hotel Patliputra Ashok, Bankipur Bus Stand, and Sultan Palace, with an expected investment of Rs1,000 crore.
Smaller-scale projects are also underway, including the development of budget hotels in Sitamarhi, Rohtas, and Buxar districts and a pilgrim shelter and cafeteria in Munger’s Asarganj, funded at Rs84.27 crore and Rs14.88 crore, respectively.
The government is also investing heavily in thematic tourism circuits such as the Ramayana, Buddhist, Sufi, and eco circuits. In Punauradham, a temple modelled on the Janaki Janmabhoomi is planned, with 50 acres of land being acquired at a cost of Rs120 crore. Additional sites like Lavkush Ashram in Valmiki Nagar, Ramrekha Ghat in Buxar, and Brahmakund in Rajgir are being developed as part of the wider effort.
Tourism Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh detailed changes to Bihar’s tourism policy aimed at attracting smaller investors. The minimum investment required for star-category hotels has been reduced, particularly in district and subdivision headquarters. For example, three-star projects in district centres now require Rs7.5 crore, while two-star ventures in sub-divisions need Rs5 crore.
To further incentivise investment, the state will now reimburse 80% of SGST for eligible tourism projects over seven years—an extension from the previous five-year term. Additionally, projects that employ local residents will receive reimbursements of up to Rs3,000 per worker per month for five years. Those hiring disabled workers will be eligible for a Rs1,500 monthly reimbursement per worker, capped at five employees per project.
Other senior officials in attendance included Nand Kishore, managing director of the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, Deputy Secretary Indu Kumari, and General Manager Chandan Chauhan.
