The number of domestic and the foreign tourists visiting Bihar has increased. In 2011, 18 million domestic and 0.92 million foreign tourists had visited Bihar, which has increased to 21million and 1.1 million respectively. The state is expecting 20 per cent growth in arrivals in 2013. The Department of Tourism, Bihar is reorienting its policy to capture a strong 500-700 million Buddhist followers to give a new dimension to state’s tourism potential. According to Mihir Kumar Singh, Tourism Secretary of Bihar, Bihar has a wide range of products with the most important being the Buddhist related sites. The state has 106 crores from the State Plan and Rs 112 crores from the Central Government, and are expecting around Rs 100 crores for Nalanda, he stated.
“We have Buddhist places like Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Viashali among others. We already have a high international visitor market. This enables us to capture the 500-700 million strong Buddhist overseas markets in China, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and other countries having followers of Buddhism. We have a season from late September to March. Again in May, we have an isolated 5-day season during Baisakhi Purnima (Enlightenment day of Buddha). So, we are trying to extend the season by attracting visitors from different countries through religious ceremonies which will end at Mahabodhi temple. The process has already started in which the monasteries will be doing all the ceremonies. Dates and venues of these ceremonies will be fixed monastery-wise and country-wise and publicity in these countries will be done through monasteries, Indian embassies and media. We are already holding various Buddhist Conclaves and meetings. Moreover, we already have number of other initiatives such as gathering of religious heads. Dalai Lama and Karmapa among others visit Bodh Gaya every year,” he revealed.
