Uttar Pradesh is aiming to collaborate with governments across South Asia and Southeast Asia to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for developing tourism infrastructure at its Buddhist sites. To highlight these opportunities, the state recently organized the ‘Bodhi Yatra’ conclave in New Delhi, showcasing its rich Buddhist pilgrimage destinations.
Uttar Pradesh is offering land banks at key Buddhist sites, including Kushinagar, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Sankisa, and Kaushambi, for the development of country-specific monasteries and accommodation units.
Mukesh Meshram, UP Principal Secretary of the Department of Tourism and Culture, expressed optimism about increasing foreign tourist arrivals. “We are hopeful of attracting more inbound foreign tourists soon. Our goal is to strengthen spiritual and cultural connections with South Asian and Southeast Asian countries and enhance cultural diplomacy with the support of the Ministry of External Affairs, promoting FDI in the state,” he said.
“We have allocated two acres of land in Varanasi to the Bhutan government for constructing temples and guest houses. We invite other countries to invest in the hospitality and tourism sectors at these six sites, assuring them of our full cooperation,” he added. Varanasi is home to the significant Buddhist site of Sarnath.
The conclave was graced by the presence of ambassadors from various countries, including Singapore’s Simon Wong, Thailand’s Pattarat Hongtong, Myanmar’s Moe Kyaw Aung, and representatives from Bhutan, Japan, Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, among others,
Earlier this year, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department showcased the state’s Buddhist heritage at the Buddha Bhoomi programme in Thailand, held from February 23 to March 3. This initiative allowed Thai citizens to virtually experience the ‘Mahaparinirvana’ site of Kushinagar. Additionally, the department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in New Delhi to promote Buddhist tourism.