Need to overcome bottlenecks to utilise Buddha circuit toursim: President
New Delhi, Aug 23 : Last-mile connectivity is vital for popularizing India's rich history of Buddha circuit, said President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday, emphasizing that "we need to overcome the bottlenecks so that heritage tourism is utilised to its full potnetial."
"I must emphasise that while we should take advantage of our strengths, we also need to overcome issues that are limiting us from scaling up," the President said after inaugurating the 6th International Buddhish Enclave in the capital.
He said that there are issues related to limited market research, limited interpretation, and inadequate exhibiting and presentation of the Buddhist Circuit's history and narrative.
"While air services have expanded in the past few years, last-mile connectivity, whether by way of road and rail, still has gaps that need to be filled. Pollution and environmental changes are other pressing concerns," he pointed out.
The President said that despite these niggling problems, the potential is so large that it can only motivate us to move ahead with greater energy and vigour.
"I am confident that the combined expertise of the delegates at this conclave, drawing inspiration from the wisdom and the problem-solving techniques of Lord Buddha, will lead our heritage tourism efforts to a more enlightened path," he added.
The President also launched a website (www.indiathelandofbuddha.in) and a film dedicated to the Buddhist circuit in the country.
Kovind also said that the practice of cultural and religious travel and tourism is not new to India.
"It goes back thousands of years and in fact visits from Buddhist pilgrims, monks and scholars from other countries and civilisations have been a proud feature of our history. This has been mutually enriching and in diverse ways," he said.
"The voyage of Buddhism from India to Asia and the trans-continental links that were created carried more than just spiritualism. They carried a rich cargo of knowledge and learning. They carried arts and crafts. They carried meditation techniques and even martial arts," he added.
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3 Indians injured after fire breaks out in UAE's Fujairah due to drone attack
Dubai (PTI): Three Indian nationals were injured on Monday after a fire broke out on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ) in the UAE following a drone strike originating from Iran, according to local media reports.
The relevant authorities in the eastern emirate of Fujairah confirmed that a fire has broken out in the FOIZ, resulting from a drone attack coming from Iran, the state-run WAM news agency reported.
Fujairah Civil Defence teams immediately responded to the incident and are continuing efforts to bring the fire under control, it added.
Three Indian nationals sustained moderate injuries after the fire broke out on the FOIZ, the Khaleej Times reported, quoting authorities in Fujairah.
The injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, it added.
In a post on X, the UAE's Ministry of Defence said that Iran launched four missiles toward various areas across the country. "Three were successfully engaged over the country's territorial waters, while one fell into the sea," it said.
The ministry urged the public to comply with all public safety procedures when warning messages are issued to the public.
Authorities have urged the public not to circulate rumours and to rely only on official sources for information, Gulf News reported.
