Patna: In his first departmental review meeting after assuming charge, Bihar's tourism minister Kedar Prasad Gupta on Wednesday issued directives to officials for the effective implementation of the state's tourism policy to attract maximum investment. He also instructed the department to prepare action plans for the grand celebration of mythological fairs and festivals.
Meeting Highlights
The meeting was held at the tourism directorate auditorium in Patna. Tourism secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh welcomed the minister and presented an overview of the department's structure, functioning, and ongoing schemes. He also briefed the minister on the latest status of state and central government projects and expenditure under various schemes.
Key Circuits and Policies
Special Secretary-cum-Director Udayan Mishra apprised the minister of major tourist destinations under key circuits, including Buddha, Eco, Sikh, Jain, Ramayana, Sufi, Shiv Shakti, and Gandhi circuits. He also presented details of the Tourism Policy, Home Stay Policy, and Branding and Marketing Policy aimed at boosting investment in the sector.
Minister's Directives
Addressing officials, Gupta said tourism would play a key role in Bihar's development, echoing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's emphasis on the sector. He stressed that all schemes must be completed on time to ensure maximum benefit to the public. The minister also underlined the need to effectively disseminate departmental information among the public.
Gupta directed officials to ensure that the tourism policy is implemented effectively to attract maximum investment. He also asked the department to prepare action plans for the grand celebration of mythological fairs and festivals, which are expected to draw tourists and boost the local economy.
Attendees
The meeting was attended by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Nand Kishor, Joint Secretary Indu Kumari, General Manager Chandan Chauhan, Joint Director Rajesh Raushan, Deputy Secretaries Dev Shri and Neha Kumari, along with other officials.
The minister's directives are expected to give a fillip to the tourism sector in Bihar, which has immense potential for growth. The state government has been focusing on promoting tourism as a key driver of economic development, and the new initiatives are likely to create more opportunities for investment and employment.
