Nitish Kumar for framing road map to promote tourism in Bihar

PATNA: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today directed senior officials to frame a roadmap for promotion of tourism in Bihar as it can generate employment and promote economic development.

Presiding over a review meeting of the tourism department with top officials, he asked them to work on all aspects of the sector for framing a roadmap for its integrated development in Bihar.

Kumar said professional experts of tourism industry and others having in-depth understanding of this sector should be consulted for preparation of the roadmap.

The Buddhist circuit, Mahatma Gandhi circuit, Shiva Shakti circuit for kanwarias, Ramayana circuit, Jain circuit and other tourist places must be developed for economic growth of Bihar, he said.

The Chief Minister directed Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh to include art and culture department in the comprehensive roadmap for tourism sector.

Kumar said that Bihar will host two important functions in 2017 - Prakashotsav, on the occasion of Guru Govind Singh's 350th birth anniversay, and centenary celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha which was led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917.

He asked the officials to set up dedicated team for preparation of the two events and submit a work plan for conduct of the two events within a month.

Stating that there was huge potential for development of tourism sector, the Chief Minister said it generates employment generation and economic development.

He also gave his consent for setting up Indian Institute of Tourism and Trade Management at Bodh Gaya for promotion of tourism and asked the tourism department to submit a proposal in this regard.

State Tourism Minister Anita Devi and a number of senior officials attended the meeting.