HERITAGE WORLDWIDE e newsletter

Bihar woos tourists with Buddha link

Chennai, Jan. 20:

Discover Bihar – its rich culture, heritage and tourism. That's the simple message that Mr D.K. Shukla, Managing Director of Bihar Tourism Development Corporation, conveyed travel agents.

“In the past issues like security and lack of infrastructure were major concerns for tourists, but not today,” he told newspersons.

“We started late to promote tourism but now want to catch up with neighbouring States by improved transportation and accommodation facility,” he said.

On the private-public-partnership basis, a sum of around Rs 200 crore is expected to be brought in the next two to three years by private players to develop tourism, he told newspersons.

Buddhist destinations
The State's biggest attraction continues to be link to Buddha's life, which is attracting tourists within the country and from countries such as Sri Lanka, Japan and Bhutan.

For instance, in December to coincide with Buddha's 2006th year of enlightenment, nearly 4 lakh foreign tourists arrived in Bihar. This was compared to 6 lakh for the entire 2010.

“Our infrastructure could not meet such a massive influx of tourists. We do not even have a five star hotel in the State,” he said.

In fact, to boost tourism, the State government has accorded industry status to tourism to attract private investment.

With this, investments would be eligible for subsidies and tax incentives, he said.

Infrastructure facilities
The government's focus is to develop basis infrastructure for tourism. This includes an international standard airport and accommodation, seamless road and rail infrastructure to tourist spots and site, telecommunication and electricity supply.

This year, a lot of focus is being given on eco-tourism, he said.

Some of the major destinations promoted by Bihar include Bodhgaya (Buddha's enlightenment sites), Gaya (final salvation point for the Hindus), Nalanda (ruins of world's first university for higher education), Pawapur (Lord Mahavir's Nirvana site), Rajgir (kingdom of Magadh), Vaishali (site for last sermon delivery by Lord Buddha), Vikramsila (centre for Tantric Buddhishm) and Kesariya (where Budha delivered his famous Kalama Sutta).

Chennai – transit hub
Mr Shukla said 1.32 crore tourists, including 5.27 lakh foreign tourists, visited the State between January and November 2011.

Of the total foreign tourists, nearly 30 per cent are from Sri Lanka who use Chennai as the transit point to visit Bihar.

“We want to promote Bihar more with the agents in the city than among the tourists,” he said.

Mr P. Saravanan, Chairman (Southern Region) of Travel Agents Association of India, said eight flights from Sri Lanka arrive in Chennai, and nearly 50 per cent of the passengers are on their way to Bihar.

While there is no direct flight to Bihar from Sri Lanka, the passengers mostly take the train from Chennai to Patna.

This is cheaper than taking the flight to Delhi and then going to Patna or Bodhgaya by road.