India

Floods In Vietnam, Thailand, And Myanmar Disrupts Buddhist Circuit Tourism Season, Cancellations Rise

The floods in Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar have put a halt to the tourist season of the Buddhist circuit, which starts from October 1 and ends on March 31. The flooding in Bihar has also contributed to the decline in local tourism. Before the season began, pilgrimage sites in the Buddhist circuit, including the Mahaparinirvana site in Kushinagar, were filled with hundreds of tourists from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. However, very few tourists are currently visiting for the new season. Tourists from Sri Lanka and Taiwan were present on the first day, but their numbers were significantly lower than expected.

Impact of Regional Flooding

A large number of tourists visiting the Buddhist circuit typically include Buddhist followers from Thailand, followed by visitors from Vietnam and Myanmar. Given the current flood situation, there is a strong possibility that the tourist season will be negatively impacted due to the decreased number of visitors. Additionally, many districts in Bihar are struggling with flooding, which affects air connectivity to major Buddhist sites. Kolkata Airport in West Bengal and Bodhgaya Airport in Bihar connect to numerous Buddhist countries, and tourists from Bihar often travel to Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh. The floods have disrupted roads, communication, and rail services in Bihar, further complicating travel plans.

Local and International Tourist Decline

Monk Ashok, who regularly interacts with tourists from Buddhist countries, indicated that the floods in Bihar, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Nepal are the main reasons for the lack of tourist arrivals. Many tourists are expressing intentions to visit only after the situation stabilizes. With the ongoing challenges, it may take at least a month for the tourism season to regain its momentum.

Also Read: UP CM Yogi Adityanath Urges Youth To Shun Drugs, Says Aspirations Depend On Healthy Choices

Vishal Talwar

Recent Posts

Airstrikes Hit Houthi-Held Yemen Capital Sanaa Amid Renewed Escalation; Reports Say

Multiple explosions shook Houthi-held Sanaa as local residents reported airstrikes and warplanes overhead amid renewed…

15 mins ago

3rd ODI: KL Rahul’s Century, Rohit Sharma’s 92 Put India In Command Against West Indies

KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 129 while Rohit Sharma scored 92 as India posted 351/7…

16 mins ago

Supernova Building Suicide Case: Police Identify 29-Year-Old Gurugram Resident As Victim

Noida Police identified the man who died after jumping from Supernova Spira Tower as 29-year-old…

21 mins ago

Gujarat UCC Gets Presidential Assent; Changes Family Laws

Gujarat’s UCC creates common rules for marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships, with implementation.

31 mins ago

Asian Games: India Retain Men’s Hockey Gold, Seal LA 2028 Olympic Berth

India defeated Malaysia 5-1 in the Asian Games men’s hockey final to retain their title…

47 mins ago

PM Modi Meets Haryana MLAs, Ministers To Discuss ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ Vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a meeting with Haryana MLAs and ministers at his…

1 hour ago