BHUBANESWAR: With religious tourism being the focus area under Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Central Government, the State has now decided to renovate its Buddhist Circuit.
Informing this at the three-day international tourism conclave that began in Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) on Friday, Tourism Minister Ashok Panda said as air connectivity with Kuala Lampur has been established, the department would focus on attracting more Buddhist tourists from South Asian and South East Asian countries to Odisha. “We would be holding road shows in these countries this year,” he said.
This apart, the Tourism Department has proposed a Rs 100-crore project for developing the Buddhist Circuit of Odisha under the Central scheme.
The Odisha loop of Buddhist sites comprising Ratnagiri-Dhaulagiri-Udayagiri-Khandagiri and Langudi dates back to early 6th century BC. The sites are dotted with stupas, chaityas and Ashokan edicts. It is also a seat of study of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Hosted by IITTM, the conclave witnessed participation from academicians, social entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the field of tourism. The trends for development and promotion of religious tourism in India, especially in Odisha, will be discussed at the three-day conclave.
IITTM will coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism and State Government to explore religious tourism recourses of Odisha and make them more attractive for domestic and religious tourists.