As part of events to promote tourism from Vietnam to India, the Embassy of India, in collaboration with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Indian Ministry of Tourism and India Tourism Office in Singapore, hosted a webinar on “Buddhist Circuits in India” on 8 November 2021. A number of tourism and travel companies, media outlets and tourism experts from India and Vietnam joined.
2. In his keynote address, Ambassador Pranay Verma highlighted recent steps taken by India to welcome foreign tourists, including opening of all tourism to India from 15 November and the launch of “Su-Swagatam” Indian visa app as a single window facilitation for foreign tourists. Ambassador noted the salience of Buddhist heritage in India for Vietnamese tourists. He also underlined the new facilities to promote international travel to these destinations, notably the inauguration of the Kushinagar International Airport by Prime Minister of India in October 2021.
3. The event was also addressed by the Vice Chairman of VNAT, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, who welcomed the Embassy’s initiative and urged travel operators to disseminate more information on Buddhist circuit packages suitable for Vietnamese tourists.
4. Presentations were made by senior officials of India’s Ministry of Tourism, India Tourism Office in Singapore, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, International Buddhist Confederation as well as representatives from the travel industry. The presentations highlighted all major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India and their significance in Buddhism. India’s Ministry of Tourism detailed about various steps initiated for easier and comfortable travel to the Buddhist Circuits in India through launching of dedicated train for Buddhist tourists, issuance of e-Tourist Visa for Vietnamese tourists, provision of comprehensive tour packages on Buddhist circuits, augmenting capacity for tourist facilitators in foreign languages including Vietnamese language, providing multilingual support facilities at thousands of tourism helpdesk, availability of guides and information centres on Buddhist circuit tourism and availability of dedicated website pages on the Land of Buddha.
5. While acknowledging profound influence of Buddhism on the life of the Vietnamese people, Vietnamese speakers during the Webinar suggested enhancing promotion in Vietnam of India’s Buddhist circuit tourism, further enhancement of tourism facilities for Vietnamese visitors and organizing cultural exchange activities to generate more awareness among the people of Vietnam on the Buddhist Circuits in India. The webinar concluded with an interactive Q&A session. Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi presented the Vote of Thanks to the participants.
***
Hanoi
8 November 2021
