Vinay Kumar, director of Bihar Tourism, noted, “The tourism potential here is enormous. The state is endowed with exquisite scenic beauty, film, cuisine and literature. Bihar is to Buddhists what Saudi Arabia is to Muslims.”

Sushil Kumar, deputy chief minister of Bihar, said, “If any Buddhist desires salvation, he must visit Bodhgaya. Lord Mahavira was born and attained nirvana nearby, too. And many people also know that the 10th Sikh guru, Gobind Singh, was born in Bihar.”

“There’s no doubt that this land is sacred,” Sujit Bannerjee, secretary of the government of India’s ministry of tourism, told India-West. “The only thing that deters people is the lack of wayside facilities, such as good roads, clean toilets at rest stops, good airports and good hotels. Those are my priorities.” Clean, comfortable rest stops will soon be constructed every 40 kms on state highways and every 50 kms on national highways, added another official.

“The main objective of this conference is to give serious thought to developing a Buddhist circuit of travel,” Selja said. “The sector has high potential to deliver sustainable growth, as well as jobs for both professionals and unskilled workers.

“India has great diversity — there are fairs, wellness vacations, heritage sites, something for everyone, and religious tourism has proven resilient to the pressures of the global recession. It’s not viewed as a luxury but as travel with a purpose.”

Bihar’s Law and Order Challenge
Though the topic of the conclave was peace, dozens of armed guards stood watch outside the venue. The state of Bihar, though on a positive upward spiral since a new state government headed by Nitish Kumar of the National Democratic Alliance took power from Lalu Prasad Yadav in 2005, is still the poorest state in India. After the state of Jharkand was carved out of the state in 2000, Bihar continued to deal with serious crime issues — ranging from kidnappings to muggings to Naxalite terrorist attacks — which have not only had a negative impact on Bihar natives but have also driven away numbers of NRIs, Asian Buddhists and Westerners.

Selja says the central government is trying to make improvements that include increased police protection and a dedicated phone hotline just for tourists.

“We are in constant touch with the state government to raise a tourist security force,” she told India-West. “The government of India will start a help line for the entire country. Everybody has to cooperate — not only the government, but also the people of Bihar. There might be a few incidents that are obviously detrimental to tourism.”

The tourist security force, which will work all over India, will be co-funded by states and the central government and will be staffed by former India Central Police Reserve Force officers and ex-servicemen, and will be easily identified by distinctive uniforms.

Sushil Kumar, deputy chief minister of Bihar, said, “In the last four years, we have seen a complete turnaround in Bihar, including a 400 percent growth in the number of foreign tourists coming here. Gaya airport offers more than 25 regular flights every week from places like Bangkok, Myanmar and Colombo.”

“Buddha’s teachings have brought about a profound change in the social and religious life of the entire world,” said Sujit Banerjee. “They show the path of nonviolence and peace to the world.”

Religious Tourism on the Rise
“A tourism revolution is sweeping the world,” Banerjee added. “India has seen rapid development over the past few years. With new initiatives and better infrastructure, well trained-people and the continued success of the Incredible India! campaign, we have exposed more and more people to our multifaceted subcontinent.”

Dr. Marcio Favilla Lucca De Paula, the newly appointed executive director of the World Tourism Organization, said that religious tourism will be key to India’s success. “The first quarter of 2009 was the peak of a bad period,” he said. “The H1N1 epidemic and the economy made it one of the most difficult years in the history of tourism. Even India had a decrease of four percent in international tourist arrivals in 2009, and a decrease of six percent in receipts.

“But India’s participation in the improvement of cultural and religious tourism will drive its growth. Exploring the possibility of Buddhist circuits, India will receive an avid push in its upward growth trend. Religion has always been an integral part of societies, the world over. There is a deep-seated need in humans to believe in the supernatural, and for fellowship with one another, pilgrimage, meditation and worship. That’s why religious tourism is one of the fastest-growing markets in tourism.

“It’s no coincidence that we at the WTO endorse this conclave in the very birthplace of Buddhism. In our stressful world, the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Path invites us on a journey of hope.”

The appreciation of Buddhist principles can be as simple, or as complex, as the seeker desires. The Middle Path refers to moderation between the extremes of sensual indulgence and asceticism. Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths resonate with millions of followers: First, that life means suffering; second, that the origin of suffering is attachment; third, that the cessation of suffering is attainable; and fourth, that there is an Eightfold Path to the end of suffering.

The latest figures on tourism to India, as expressed in a market research survey prepared by Dr. R.N. Pandey of India Tourism Feb. 4, show an increase in the number of foreign visitors to India. NRIs are counted in that figure, but their numbers are not counted separately, said Banerjee. In January 2010, 491,000 foreign visitors came to India, as compared to 422,000 in January 2009 (an increase of 16.4 percent) and 512,000 in January 2008. Positive growth was also noted in Foreign Exchange Earnings, to the tune of 29.1 percent from January 2009 to January 2010.

Officials at the state and national level have pledged to improve the infrastructure of Bihar to make it more hospitable.

“We face a critical hotel shortage,” said Bihar Tourism’s Vinay Kumar. “But many luxury and budget hotel operators have expressed interest in opening here. We have two airports — at Gaya and Patna — and a rail network that is very convenient. The road connections have improved substantially, and many of the roads are now being ‘four-laned.’ We also plan to start an air taxi service; we have very ambitious plans.”

Kumar added that a Rs. 40 crore convention center has been planned in Rajgir, and that a new park is currently being built in Patna at a cost of Rs. 150 crores that will span 40 acres and will house some of the ashes of Lord Buddha.

Indian Railways Steps In
Last October, Indian Railways launched the Mahaparinirvan Express, a special train exclusively devoted to the Buddhist Circuit. Starting in Delhi, the train makes an eight-day journey to Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Nalanda in Bihar; and goes on to Varanasi, where guests perform aarti on the holy Ganga river; Sarnath (where Buddha preached his first sermon), Gorakhpur and Kushinagar (where he attained Nirvana). The train then proceeds to the Buddha’s birthplace of Lumbini, Nepal; as well as Gonda and Sravasti, where Buddha is believed to have spent 24 monsoons; before a day at the Taj Mahal in Agra and the return to Delhi’s Safdarjung Railway Station.

Looking Forward
Inspired by Bihar’s push to promote Buddhist tourism, officials from the state of Orissa announced that they would hold similar a Buddhist Conclave next year. In addition, Andhra Pradesh is making a play for Buddhist tourists, with itineraries created by AP Tourism that include the Ananda Buddha Vihara in the Mahendra Hills outside Secundarabad; 3rd century rock caves in Guntupalli; 4th and 5th century caves in Undavalli; and even a 279-acre Buddhist theme park in Nagarjunasagar.

Sikkim, too, is promoting destinations such as a Buddha Park Pilgrimage and Cultural center in Rabong and a monastery near Mt. Khan-chen-Dzonga built on land blessed by Guru Padmasambhava, the Indian guru who brought Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan.

India Tourism has identified 29 “Mega-Destinations” that it most proudly offers the rest of the world, such as Agra, Hampi (Karnataka), Dwarka (Gujarat), Varanasi, Aurangabad (Maharashtra), and Mahabaleshwar (Tamil Nadu).

“The area of Bodhgaya, Nalanda and Rajgir, including the Mahabodhi temple, is one of those special destinations, and will get special attention in the months ahead,” both with green/ecologically aware initiatives and special security programs, said Selja.