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| Indian Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai [File Photo] |
Sahai announced the proposal in Varanasi
who was here to inaugurate a two day International Buddhist Conclave at
Varanasi, starting from Saturday (September 29).
He said his Ministry had also decided to develop a Ghat in the temple town Varanasi in the name of Lord Buddha on the bank of river Ganga.
He said his Ministry had also decided to develop a Ghat in the temple town Varanasi in the name of Lord Buddha on the bank of river Ganga.
He further said that his Ministry had
adopted a Keep India Clean Mission to keep clean the cities particularly
tourist places across the country to attract maximum tourists. The Minister
appealed to the State Governments to take initiatives for the success this Mission.
He assured full cooperation of his Ministry to the state Government local
administration to keep the holy city of Varanasi clean.
\Sahai said India being the land of origin of Buddhism, is the main attraction
for the Buddhist tourists from across the globe. He said his Ministry is
drawing up plans to to attract more tourists from Buddhist countries by
providing them special facilities. Buddhism being a world religion now, its
sites have a great attraction for tourists’ world over. The Ministry of Tourism
is continuing with its efforts in identifying more and more Buddhist Circuits
and developing them in holistic and integrated manner.
Speaking on the occasion Sahai announced that his Ministry has identified three
circuits to be developed as part of Buddhist Circuits during the 12th Five Year
Plan.
The conclave is being held with a view to showcasing and projecting the
Buddhist Heritage of India. The delegates at the conclave include the
International Buddhist scholars, tour operators and media both domestic and
international who actively promote Buddhist Tourism. About 130 Overseas guests
including Buddhist Scholars/Tour Operators and Media representatives
(mainstream media and travel journalists) from 30 countries including .
Australia,Belgium,Bhutan,Cambodia,Canada,China,France,Holland,Hungary,Indonesia,Italy,Japan,laos,Malaysia,Myanmar,New
Zealand, Phillipines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, South Africa,
Spain, Sri lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA and Vietnam are attending the
conclave. More than one hundred Indian Tour Operators, Scholars, Media
personnel from 16 States/UTs including Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha
and Bihar are also attending the Conclave.
The Conclave is an important tourism marketing event designed to bring together
international buyers from around the world particularly from the popular
Buddhist destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, China etc.
together, to interact, promote and sell, with the objective of increasing
tourist arrivals to India and specifically to the Buddhist sites in different
states.
The Conclave sessions include Technical sessions on Buddhism for scholars, and
travel and Tourism sessions for the media and Tour operators. The delegates
will also be taken for site visits to Bodh Gaya and Nalanda. The International
Buddhist Conclave in India is being organized after a period of two years. The
last Conclave was organized in Nalanda in February 2010.