3.54 crore tourists have visited Jharkhand in last four and

A total of 3.54 crore tourists have visited Jharkhand in the last four and a half years, state Tourism Minister Amar Bauri has said.

He said under the "Swadesh Darshan Scheme" of the Central government Rs 52.72 crore will be spent for development of Dalma-Chandil-Getalsud-Betla, Mirchainia, Netarhat eco tourism circuit in the state.

"The number of tourists coming to Jharkhand has doubled in the last four and a half years. This number has increased to 3.54 crore. It has approximately 1.76 lakh foreign tourists. Basic amenities have been made available in the state's major tourist destinations and it has also provided employment to 74.16 thousand people of the state," the minister said on Thursday.

He said 132 tourist sites of the state are being developed by classifying them in international, national, state-level and local-level categories, adding eight tourists and cultural sports festivals are being organised by according them the status of state festivals.

The eight festivals are - Itkhori Festival, Chhau Festival, Baidyanath Dham Festival, Luguburu Festival, Maghi Mela, Hijala Mela, Mudma Mela and Basukinatham Festival.

The minister said the efforts made by the government enabled the month-long "Shravani Mela" in Deoghar getting international recognition.

He said work to preserve terracotta temples located in Maluti in Dumka is in progress.