The Government is planning to extend Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) facility to nationals from countries having sizable Buddhist population such as Thailand and Malaysia.
Inaugurating a two-day International Buddhist Conclave in Varanasi today, the Tourism Minister, Subodh Kant Sahai said his ministry had also decided to develop a Ghat in the temple town in the name of Lord Buddha on the bank of river Ganga.
“India, being the land of origin of Buddhism, is the main attraction for Buddhist tourists from across the globe. We are drawing up plans to attract more tourists from Buddhist countries like Thailand and Malaysia by providing them special facilities like Visa-on-Arrival,” Sahai said.
Currently, India extends VoA facility to 11 countries including Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar.