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.
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.
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.
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