Bodh Gaya: The Indian Institute of Management, Bodh Gaya, on Saturday convened a conference on tourism-led employability, aiming to reimagine Bihar’s cultural wealth as a driver of jobs and sustainable development. The event, organised with NITI Aayog and the state’s Planning and Development Department, brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, and academics to draft tourism circuits and action plans for job creation.
Dhrijesh Kumar Tiwari, joint secretary at NITI Aayog, said Bihar’s tourism must focus on entrepreneurship that “turns heritage into homes, culture into careers, and faith into future opportunities.” Nand Kishor, managing director of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, added that visitor satisfaction was central to building a seamless and holistic tourism experience.
IIM Bodh Gaya director Dr Vinita S. Sahay highlighted the institute’s national character, with students from nearly 300 cities, saying it could play a key role in linking Bihar’s culture and history with opportunities for growth.
Speakers emphasised that tourism should be both experiential and employment-oriented, calling for cross-sectoral coordination, branding, use of technology, and global best practices. Contributions from leaders in hospitality, consulting, and academia — including senior figures from Deloitte, Marriott International, Taj Hotels, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Indigo Hospitality — explored skill development, rural entrepreneurship, and women-led enterprises.
Sessions also trained tourist guides and local youth in storytelling, foreign languages, and eco-guiding, while vendors and handicraft sellers were guided on packaging, hygiene, and digital payments.
The deliberations will be consolidated into a structured action plan focused on capacity building, innovative circuits, and public-private partnerships to anchor Bihar’s tourism as a platform for rural livelihoods, youth skilling, women’s empowerment, and cultural diplomacy.
