Patna

In a bid to boost tourism and encourage officials to explore the state’s cultural and ecological heritage, the Bihar government has directed all state employees to undertake family trips to tourist destinations every three months and submit feedback reports, officials said on Tuesday.

According to a letter issued on May 20 by Additional Chief Secretary (General Administration) B Rajender to departmental heads, divisional commissioners, district magistrates and superintendents of police, government employees will have to travel with their families for two days and two nights to tourism, eco-tourism or rural tourism sites located outside their home districts.

The directive states that the visits should preferably be scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays, during which employees must tour and stay overnight at a minimum of three tourist locations.

Highlighting Bihar’s tourism potential, the government said the state possesses a rich blend of cultural traditions, environmental wealth and historically important destinations that could evolve into major attractions at the national and international levels.

“By encouraging officials to visit such destinations and provide suggestions, tourism development and related infrastructure can be strengthened,” the letter noted.

Employees have also been instructed not to hold official review meetings or inspections during these trips.

Following the visits, officials will be required to submit reports containing photographs, details of the places visited and personal observations to their respective departments or district magistrates.

To streamline the process, nodal officers will be appointed in district magistrate offices, divisional commissioner offices and state departments. These officers will compile the reports and forward them to departments including Tourism, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Art and Culture.

The government believes the initiative will help generate economic activity in local areas while promoting local cuisine, cultural experiences and personalised hospitality.

READ MORE: Gurugram’s ‘Bulldozer Man’ RS Batth joins Muslims in Eid cleanliness drive

The period spent on these visits will be treated as official duty, the letter added.