Patna: The Bihar government has set out a fresh roadmap to improve visitor experience and strengthen the state’s tourism ecosystem, following a high-level review meeting chaired by Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, secretary of the tourism department.
At the meeting, officials agreed that all employees and service providers posted at tourist destinations across Bihar would receive specialised training in collaboration with a reputed institution. The focus will be on professional skills, courteous behaviour and service standards, with the aim of offering a more welcoming and consistent experience to visitors.
Senior officials were also directed to study best practices adopted by other states and prepare a detailed presentation drawing lessons that could be implemented in Bihar’s context.
Weekly monitoring to track progress
To ensure closer supervision of schemes, the tourism secretary ordered weekly review meetings to be held every Monday under his chairmanship. Officials will be required to present comparative progress reports showing developments over the previous and current weeks, supported by photographs and documentation.
The Department said the move was intended to introduce accountability and speed up execution of projects that have seen uneven progress in the past.
Push for digital visibility
The meeting also placed renewed emphasis on digital promotion. The department instructed officials to strengthen Bihar tourism’s presence across existing social media channels and expand outreach through relevant digital platforms, websites and mobile applications, as part of efforts to attract a wider domestic and international audience.
Hospitality and adventure tourism initiatives
The managing director of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Limited was asked to explore the feasibility of providing four-wheel-drive vehicles for dignitaries, VIPs and VVIPs visiting the state.
In another initiative aimed at diversifying tourism, officials were instructed to carry out a detailed feasibility study for constructing a hotel near the Karamchat Dam in Kaimur district, with a view to promoting adventure tourism and improving accommodation options in the region.
Towards accurate tourist data
The department also acknowledged gaps in data on tourist footfall. It decided to study visitor-counting systems used in other states to develop a more scientific and reliable method for estimating the number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting Bihar.
A detailed presentation on potential models will be prepared before any new system is adopted.
The meeting was attended by the managing director of the state tourism corporation, the chief engineer, joint secretary of the tourism department, joint director of the tourism directorate, and other senior officials, signalling what the department described as a coordinated push to raise standards and visibility of Bihar’s tourism sector.
