The three day ABTO Convention and International Buddhist Travel Mart (IBTM) begins today at Bodhgaya in Bihar. The event is being organized by Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO) in association with Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and industry partners from India and abroad.
In the august presence of the Chief Guest C P Shreshta – President of Siddharth Hotel Association Nepal, Former Secretary of Tourism Government of India Vinod Zutshi inaugurated the most prominent event promoting Buddhist Tourism in India. R V Singh –Patron Hotel Association of Buddha Gaya and Padma Shri Bulu Imam (International Gandhi Peace Awardee) were the Special Guest of the event.
Around 200 delegates from various parts of India, and 80 delegates from foreign countries such as Mayanmar, Nepal, Indonesia, Taiwan etc. have come to participate at the event. Initiated by ABTO, the first edition of the Lord Buddha International Peace Award 2019 was conferred to Lama Lopzang, President, Ashoka Mssion.
While addressing the delegates, President of Association of Buddhist Tour Operators J. P. Shaw said that this international convention where delegates from the neighbouring countries are participating in a large number will be instrumental in creating synergies to work together to promote Buddhist tourism especially this part (Bodhgaya) of the world.
“As an association our effort is to create more awareness and sensitization among the various stakeholders of Buddhist tourism sector. So that the economic benefits reaches out to the grass root level,” he added.
Former Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Vinod Zutshi delivered the key note address and suggested that apart from building world class infrastructure, air, rail and road connectivity between all prominent sites across the country is the only key to promote Buddhist Tourism in a big way. He also highlighted that a convention and cultural centre at Bodhgaya is need of the hour.
Dr Kaulesh Kumar, Secretary General ABTO delivered the vote of thanks and said that the second edition of the convention has received unprecedented support from the government and private industry stakeholders. He believes that the brain storming sessions in next two days will have a lot of discussion around Buddhist tourism and will make the way for further growth of tourism in this sector.
