India to improve and promote Buddhist tourism circuit
28th Oct 2010 The Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an agency of the World Bank, on Wednesday here to improve and promote the Buddhist tourism circuit in the country.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists throng Buddhist destinations in the country every year, but most of the places suffer a severe lack of amenities.
"We have intended an agreement in which one of the organizations of World Bank (IFC) is also involved. We would further plan the methods by which we can promote the Buddhist circuit, so that the private sector investments would also take place so that the government and private sector would make this Buddhist circuit, would support the betterment of this Buddhist sector so that people across the country and abroad would visit," Kumari Selja, Minister of Tourism, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, said.
The IFC has already supported one tourism project in India's northwestern state of Rajasthan, and the Ministry is hopeful of the same results in the Buddhist circuit, as well.
