Key Highlights 

• Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour and Conference scheduled from 04th October - 08th October 2021  is under ways
• During the conference major focus was given with regard to the infrastructure development including Air, Rail and Road Connectivity
• IRCTC gave a detailed presentation with regard to Buddhist Special Train and facilities being provided by IRCTC in the train which includes Mini Library.

The Ministry of Tourism organized a Conference in Bodhgaya to promote potential of Buddhist tourism on 5th October 2021. The conference was attended by DG of Ministry of Tourism, GoI Shri G Kamla Vardhan Rao; Director (Tourism) Govt. of Bihar; District Magistrate (Gaya) and other officials of the Ministry of Tourism. The major objective of the conference was to present the efforts and developments that have taken place in the Buddhist Circuit by the Government of India and to discuss and deliberate the way forward for the promotion of Buddhist Tourism in India. This conference was part of Ministry of Tourism’s Buddhist Circuit Train FAM Tour scheduled from 04th October - 08th October 2021. The Buddhist Circuit Fam Tour was started on 4th October, 2021 from Safdarjung Railway Station, Delhi which was Flagged off by Minister of State for Tourism & Defence Shri Ajay Bhatt.

.

The delegates/participants included members of Indian Association of Tour Operator (IATO), Association of Domestic Tour Operator (ADTOI) and Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO). During the conference major focus was given with regard to the infrastructure development including Air, Rail and Road Connectivity. Further, it was emphasized that Gaya should be promoted as round the year destination for tourists of all ages including younger generation to visit Buddhist Sites & Attractions. A detailed presentation including the tourism products offered& government initiatives undertaken for development was given by the Bihar Tourism. Also, IRCTC gave a detailed presentation with regard to Buddhist Special Train and facilities being provide by IRCTC in the train which includes Mini Library. Further, Challenges &opportunities in respect of overall development & promotion of Buddhist tourism were also discussed.  

The FAM tour is from Delhi to Delhi covering the visit of prominent Buddhist sites and conferences at Bodhgaya and Varanasi. The FAM tour will cover the visit of prominent Buddhist sites and conferences at Bodhgaya and Varanasi. The event is likely to be attended by around 125 delegates including tour operators, hoteliers, media and officials of Ministry of Tourism & State Governments. Apart from this, around 100 local tour operators and other stakeholders of tourism & hospitality sector would be attending the event at Bodhgaya and Varanasi to discuss the key issues with regard to the development and promotion of tourism in the circuit.  

Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with various Central ministries and State governments of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is developing Buddhist circuit across the Buddhist destinations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The major verticals of development under the Buddhist circuit are Connectivity, Infrastructure and logistics, Cultural research, heritage & education, Public awareness, communication & outreach. Under the above mentioned verticals, major interventions being undertaken are development of international airports at Kushinagar & Shravasti, operationalisation of RCS UDAN routes connecting Buddhist destinations, Development of Gaya Railway station, Construction of National and state highways connecting Buddhist destinations, Development of Bodhgaya under Iconic sites and Swadesh Darshan scheme, development of museums and heritage centre at Buddhist destinations,  digitization and preservation of manuscripts at Buddhist Tibetan institutes, development of courses on Buddhism etc. Under Public awareness, communication and outreach vertical, there are interventions planned for promotion of Buddhist sites and heritage in India like development of virtual gallery on shared Buddhist heritage at National Museum, creation of annual calendar of events, Buddhist media campaign in key source markets, Buddhist conclave etc.

*******

NB/OA