Buddhist Travel Mart to create tourism road map

BODH GAYA : Tour operators and travel agents, besides hoteliers and tourist guides from across the Buddhist countries, assembled at Bodh Gaya to hammer out proper hospitality and travel facilities to the tourists visiting places of Lord Buddha footprints across the globe.

The Magadh divisional commissioner, TM Bindheyshwari, formally inaugurated the threeday convention-cum-Buddhist Travel Mart at the Mahamaya Hotel in Bodh Gaya on Monday. The Association of Buddhist tour operators raised the issue of inadequate development along the Buddhist circuit in India and urged the government to ensure proper infra development for the tourists, particularly Buddhist tourists from across the world.

The divisional commissioner said that not only the Bihar government but the Centre, too, was making every effort to develop the Buddhist circuit in India.

“Apart from infra plans, the government has drawn a bigger tourism map to cover all sites with reminiscences of Lord Buddha and his core disciples who travelled across the globe to preach love and peace,” she said.

The commissioner also visited all the stalls put up by Buddhist countries and enquired about their main concerns in managing tour and travels.

Apart from Indian operators and guides, others participating this global event include those from China, Bhutan, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and America. ABTO president RV Singh and the Hotel Association general secretary Sudama Prasad said that event was organised to tap the tourism market across the Asean nations.