Promoting Trade and Economic Relations via Buddhist Spiritual Tourism Circuit Between India and Southeast Asia

Abstract

Spiritual tourism is one of the oldest forms of tourism. The purpose of this chapter is to review the key reasons for lack of promotion of investment and economic relations via tourism services related to Buddhist heritage and spiritual tourism circuit and sites to Southeast Asian countries as well as to domestic tourists. Sarnath, in Varanasi, is the hub of Buddhism in India, opened in 2016. There is road, rail, and air connection from Sarnath to various other Buddhist sites. This circuit can be promoted in counties of Southeast Asia and South Asia to spiritual followers of Buddhism as well as ‘New Age' Buddhists. Thailand, Japan, and Korea have invested in spiritual infrastructure in Sarnath for their citizens who visit for Buddhist pilgrimage. This chapter identifies the challenges, opportunities, and provides recommendations for the Indian government to provide a business friendly environment and to encourage foreign direct investment for state-of-the-art infrastructure development from Southeast Asian nations around the Buddhist spiritual tourism circuit.