India Tourism plans to lure Buddhist tourists

Bodh Gaya at Gaya district in Bihar

Government of India is planning to entice the Buddha aficionados all around the world to visit India’s Buddhist spots. It is part of the tourism ministries plans to boost the tourist inbound to the country in the days to come. As per tourism minister K J Alphons, the focus is on augmenting the infrastructure and improving road and air connectivity.

The home ministry is actively considering a proposal set forth by the tourism ministry to open new entry points through Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, as stated by an official. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to start a VietJet direct flight between Hanoi and New Delhi from October 2018.

Sanchi Stupa in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh

“A large number of Buddhist tourists from Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam want to visit India, but cannot due to the strict visa processes and poor connectivity. These hindrances have already been brought to the notice of the home and civil aviation ministries to facilitate tourists’ arrival from these countries,” said the Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma.

Improving the tourism facilities and relaxing or removing the strict entry permit rules will help entry of the tourist thought the north east states. Currently, the main entry point is Guwahati’s Dispur Airport and other smaller facilities in Aizawal, Imphal and Kohima.

The tourism ministry is hoping to have increased tourism inflow from the north eastern countries, once these corrective steps are taken by the home and civil aviaiton ministry.