Patna: Tourist footfall at eco-tourism destinations across Bihar increased by 35.7% in two years, rising from 55.20 lakh in 2022-23 to 74.90 lakh in 2024-25, according to data shared by the tourism department on Tuesday.The increase points to growing interest in destinations offering natural landscapes, wildlife, adventure activities and improved tourism facilities.Rajgir Nature Safari recorded one of the most significant increases, with visitor numbers rising from around 1.59 lakh in 2022-23 to nearly 3 lakh in 2024-25 — about 1.9 times the earlier figure.Karamchat Dam in Kaimur recorded an even sharper rise. The site received 46,163 visitors in 2022-23, compared with 1,49,832 in 2024-25 — more than three times the earlier footfall. Its reservoir, surrounding hills and greenery have helped make it an emerging nature-tourism destination.Bhimbandh Eco-Tourism Centre in Munger also witnessed a substantial increase, with visitor numbers rising from 35,093 in 2022-23 to 85,868 in 2024-25, or nearly 2.45 times the earlier figure.At Mandar Hill in Banka, footfall increased from around 80,000 to nearly 98,000 during the period. Nagi-Nakti Bird Sanctuary in Jamui recorded an increase from 30,797 visitors in 2022-23 to 48,068 in 2024-25.Rajgir Nature Safari has also emerged as a major attraction, and the place offers facilities including a glass skywalk, zipline, sky cycling and suspension bridge. Adventure activities such as archery, rifle shooting, trampolining and wall climbing have added to its appeal, particularly among families and younger visitors.Bihar’s eco-tourism circuit includes destinations such as Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bhimbandh, Kakolat Waterfall, the forests of Kaimur, Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagi-Nakti Bird Sanctuary, Udaipur forest area in West Champaran and Mandar Hill.The govt aims to expand tourism while protecting natural and wildlife areas and creating livelihood opportunities for local communities.The environment, forest and climate change department is also seeking private investment to expand the sector. It organised the Eco-Tourism Investors Meet 2026 on July 13, where projects were proposed under public-private partnerships on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis.The department has identified 276 projects for investment, including 29 reservoir-based projects and 247 projects linked to ponds, lakes, wetlands and other water bodies. Selected developers will receive sites on a 30-year lease, while the govt will provide time-bound approvals, viability gap funding and incentives under the Bihar Tourism Policy.
