PATNA – In a significant move to boost tourism in Bihar, the Tourism Department is considering offering incentives to tour and hotel operators who actively promote Bihar’s tourism both nationally and internationally. A meeting was convened on Friday, chaired by Tourism Director Vinay Kumar Rai, at the Directorate Auditorium in the Old Secretariat to discuss strategies for the promotion of Bihar’s tourism.
During the meeting, Rai announced the approval of the long-awaited Tourism Policy by the Cabinet. He urged all stakeholders in the tourism sector to prepare for increased investment, emphasizing that under the new policy, individuals would be able to directly avail incentives for establishing tourism-related industries. The government’s goal is to stimulate growth in the state’s tourism sector and create maximum employment opportunities.
Addressing tour and hotel operators, the Tourism Director proposed that if they actively participate in promoting Bihar Tourism at national and international tourism fairs, the department will consider offering incentives. The plan involves providing an incentive amount, potentially up to 50 percent of the total expenditure on travel allowance and accommodation, for domestic and international travel programs. This initiative is slated to cover five domestic and three international programs. The department is committed to implementing this plan in the coming months, including roadshow events both nationally and abroad. Additionally, a training program for hotel and tour operator personnel is in the works, with IHM Bodhgaya partnering under the Bihar Skill Development Mission to enhance hospitality skills in the tourism sector.
The meeting saw valuable suggestions from tour and hotel operators, emphasizing the need for a well-established cultural and knowledge tourism circuit alongside the religious tourism circuit. Operators also requested increased visits to ASEAN countries to attract more foreign tourists. The demand for professional training programs for hotel staff was also raised during the meeting.
Expressing satisfaction over the introduction of the state’s first tourism policy, tour and hotel operators congratulated the government. The Tourism Director assured that future plans would be crafted based on the suggestions received during the meeting. To facilitate ongoing collaboration and improve tourism in the state, monthly meetings are being considered. Deputy Director of Tourism, Pradeep Kumar Gupta, and other departmental officers were also present at the meeting.
