Patna: In order to boost tourism in the state, the Bihar Government would bring out New Tourism Policy by December this year. The tourism policy is aimed at increasing investment for infrastructure development in this sector. The Policy encourages, investors by offering upto 35% subsidy on taxes for constructing Hotels, Restaurants and other tourist amenities.
Another salient feature of the policy is the provision of Single Window System for getting all clearance related to the tourism infrastructure projects.
Rajgir Railway Station with Surrounding Hills
The Draft of the New Tourism Policy has been prepared by State Tourism Department along with the Industries Department. Tourism enjoys the status of industry in the state and by virtue of it all major policy concessions and exemptions are available to tourism ventures of the private sector. An important example of private-public partnership is the Ganga Cruise, which is quite popular among foreign tourists. Another such partnership in the making is setting up of star-category hotels on properties of BSTDC on long-term lease basis.
Bihar gets over 10 lakh foreign tourists every year which is higher than Goa and Kerala. Overall the state gets close to 2 Crore tourists every year.
Bihar Tourism Sector is divided into several circuits on the basis of its religious and historical significance. This includes Ramayana Circuit, Sufi Circuit, Jain Circuit, Gandhi Circuit etc.