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AGARTALA: A monk purifies a Buddha statue amid preparations for ‘Buddha Purnima’ festival in Agartala on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
2 min read Last Updated: June 24, 2024 | 05:19 PM IST
Uttar Pradesh plans to promote “Buddhist pilgrimage sites” in the Southeast Asian country in a bid to maximize the potential of religious and cultural heritage tourism.
The Buddhist pilgrimage route, which stretches through the eastern state of Uttar Pradesh, Nepal and the western state of Bihar, attracts people from all over Asia, including Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
Hotspots in Uttar Pradesh include Varanasi, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kapilavastu, Kaushambi, Siddharthnagar and Sankisa, while Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Rajgir and Kesariya are in Bihar. Lumbini is in neighbouring Nepal.
According to Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, tours of the state’s Buddhist temples hold special appeal for Buddhists from around the world, with many tourists from countries like Thailand, Laos and Vietnam visiting the state’s Buddhist sites.
“The sector offers huge opportunities for job generation and revenue generation. The government is focusing on upgradation of tourism facilities across state-run tourist destinations to increase the overall revenue of the state,” Singh added.
He directed the officials to promote and promote various Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Uttar Pradesh at national and international levels.
Moreover, UP Tourism plans to invest around Rs 300 crore in the Sankisa Buddhist site in Farukhabad district. The proposal also includes setting up a Buddhist museum on a 2.25-acre site.
“UP Tourism is committed to making Sankisa a world-class tourist destination to attract overseas Buddhists and strengthen the economy,” Singh said, pointing out that several economies in the world thrive on tourism.
Improvements in road and air transport infrastructure, including expressways, highways and airports, are also facilitating tourism growth in Uttar Pradesh.
Praveen Iyer, co-founder and chief commercial officer, Akasa Air, said the diversity of cultural heritage destinations in Uttar Pradesh offers immense potential for growth in travel and tourism.
Last year, around 480 million tourists from both within and outside the country visited Uttar Pradesh, an increase of over 50 per cent compared to 2022.
He asserted that UP is the fastest growing domestic air travel market and the increasing number of business and leisure travelers from around the world will continue to drive the state’s growth.
Meanwhile, the state tourism department will collaborate with the Union tourism ministry to conduct a joint survey to gauge tourist footfall in Uttar Pradesh.
The survey will collect data on tourists, tourist categories, hotel and other accommodation preferences, and other relevant information.
First Published: 24 June 2024 | 05:19 PM IST
