Bangkok-Varanasi flight from next month, Buddha tourism to gain

Lucknow, Sep 5 (UNI) In a major perceivable boost to tourism in Uttar Pradesh, Thai Airways will be starting Bangkok-Varanasi weekly flight from October 15.

The flight, which would connect South East Asia with Varanasi, is bound to benefit 'Buddha Circuit', UP Tourism Minister Kokab Hamid told reporters here.

Tourists from Japan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and Sri Lanka had always been interested in visiting places related to Lord Buddha and the weekly flight would facilitate their access, he added.

The decision to start Bangkok-Varanasi flight had been taken in New Delhi and a team of Thai Airways would soon be here to have a feel of the prospective business, the minister said.

Uttar Pradesh government has successfully launched the 'Buddha Tourism Circuit' linking all the places related to the life and philosophy of Lord Buddha such as Kapilvastu, Sarnath, Shrawasti, Sankisha, Kaushambi and Kushinagar.

Mr Hamid said it was just a beginning and soon some more steps would be taken to give fillip to the state tourism.

About 13-15 lakh foreign tourists visited UP last year, the most in the country. Most of them were interested in visiting the Buddha places, he said.

UNI SB VS MS HS1632