Almost a year ago, the unprecedented disruption caused by covid-19, left the tourism world grappling with multiple challenges and crises. However, the commencement of covid vaccination, with Ms Margaret Keenan of UK, becoming the first person in the world to be given the vaccine, all stakeholders of travel and tourism would look forward to happier days ahead, expecting quicker revival and fast tracking of travel and tourism across the globe.
The process of mass vaccination across the world however is likely to take some time and therefore domestic tourism shall continue to be the best option for all nations for immediate revival of tourism. India , being a big country with a large base of domestic travellers, can reap this benefit more than many other nations in the world.
However ,with gradual emergence of post-vaccine world ,it is also time that nations started exploring the possibilities and avenues of international travelling.Re-starting international travel would however need all global stakeholders to build common global safety standards, follow health protocols and principles of safety, confidence and trust and increase Govt to Govt (G2G) and Govt to Industry(G2 I) collaboration.
To make a beginning in international travelling, ‘Cross Border’ and ‘Intra-Region’ tourism would be a preferred option before the nations. In this context, India and asian nations must work closely and synergize to kickstart international travelling in the region. India gets 40% of its total inbound tourists from asian region and the biggest driving theme for asian nations to visit India is Buddhist tourism, India being the ‘Land of Buddha’.
While Ministry of Tourism has taken number of initiatives to promote Buddhist tourism, Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO), with the support of the Ministry, is doing commendable work as a national platform for promoting Buddhist tourism in India and across asian region and subsequently acting as a catalyst to accelerate cross border tourism between India and asian nations. The ABTO Convention and International Buddhist Travel Mart (IBTM 2020) organised by ABTO from 10-12 Dec 2020 at Bodhgaya, is indeed another laudable step in that direction.
I had the pleasure to participate and address at this event’s Inaugural Session and the International Conference on the subject ‘Revival of Tourism’ , presided over by Hon’ble Union Tourism Minister of India, as Chief Guest. And it was a great pleasure to hear the Hon’ble Minister giving assurance of all possible support to the cause of promoting Buddhist tourism ,during his inaugural address.
The related video link is available below:
https://www.facebook.com/100025923378058/videos/776790256528413\
