- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: Bringing spirituality and rich heritage of Uttar Pradesh together, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department organized the ‘Bodhi Yatra’ conclave in New Delhi today to commemorate the extraordinary journey of Lord Buddha. The event highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s significance as a Buddhist pilgrimage and the tourism potential of the state.
The conclave witnessed the presence of key officials, including the Minister of Tourism, Government of India, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,Minister of Tourism and Culture, Uttar Pradesh, Jaiveer Singh, Secretary, Ministry Of Tourism, V. Vidyavati, Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Durga Shankar Mishra, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture, Mukesh Kumar Meshram, Special Secretary of Tourism, Eesha Priya, Director General of IBC, Abhijit Haldar and Former Deputy Speaker of CTA, Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok
Ambassador of Singapore, H.E. Simon Wong, Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Myanmar, H.E. Moe Kyaw Aung and ambassadors from many other countries like Bhutan, Japan, Indonesia, Argentina, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam etc. graced the conclave with their presence reflecting India’s strong international ties.
Members of the International Buddhist Council, academicians,representatives of National and International organisations, bureaucrats, travel writers and bloggers were also present at the event.
The event commenced with a small presentation by the Special Secretary, Department of Tourism Uttar Pradesh, showcasing the rich history, culture, and heritage of the state’s six major Buddhist sites: Sankisa, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kapilvastu, Kaushambi, and Kushinagar. She said, “Uttar Pradesh, with its rich religious diversity, continues to inspire and uplift those who seek a deeper understanding of life and enlightenment.” The presentation also outlined investment opportunities and Uttar Pradesh’s investor-friendly tourism policies aimed at boosting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism sector.
It was followed by a welcome speech from the Principal Secretary, Department Of Tourism and Culture. He said, “Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a popular tourist destination attaining number one spot in domestic tourism and we are hopeful of attracting a higher number of inbound foreign tourists as well in near future.”
Highlighting the objective of the event he said, “We wanted to reveal the spiritual and cultural connection with different countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia and improve cultural diplomacy with the support of the Ministry Of External affairs and promote Foreign Direct Investment in the state. We have already allotted 02 acres of land in Varanasi to Bhutan Govt. for the construction of temples and guest houses. Through this platform we also offer all the other countries to invest in the hospitality and tourism sector of all these six sites and we assure you that we will provide all the mutual cooperation needed.”
