The premier and pioneer association constantly promoting ‘Buddhist Tourism’ at  the national and international fronts – ‘Association of Buddhist Tour Operators’ (popularly known as ABTO) is all set to bring the largest conglomerates of Buddhist tour operators, travel companies, scholars, state tourism departments and government representatives from center and states to attend the 6th edition of  ‘ABTO International Convention’ in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh from December 10 – 12, 2023.

The calendar event of ABTO facilitating brainstorming sessions around the growth and development of Buddhist tourism gaining remarkable popularity among the stakeholders not only from India but from all prominent countries promoting ‘Buddhist Tourism’ as first and foremost priority.

While elaborating on the readiness of the forthcoming edition of the Convention, Dr Kaulesh Kumar, Secretary General of ABTO said: “We are very excited about the 6th edition of ABTO International Convention in Kushinagar which is poised to become the largest ever conference on ‘Buddhist Tourism’ in India, and soon to become Asia’s largest in Buddhist segment.”

The 5th edition of ABTO International Convention and IBTM had registered a remarkable success which was attended by around 300 delegates including 39 foreign delegates from 11 countries.

“This year too we are expecting not less than 400 delegates including 40 from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Mayanmar, Taiwan and representatives from BIMSTEC Countries. Chief Monk of Malaysia has also confirmed his august presence on the occasion,” informed Dr Kaulesh.

6th edition of ABTO International Convention will add one more programme to event, the  ‘International Tourism Dance Festival’ (ITDF) in Lauriya Nandangarh, Bihar on December 10th 2023.

ABTO International Convention & IBTM Tourism Haat has received the support from Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and other national, international associations.

Travel trade associations such as ASITA Indonesia, ATTA Thailand, NATTA Nepal, UMTA Myanmar, HAN Nepal, TOAB Bangladesh, TEATA Thailand, TCT Thailand, TTAA Thailand, IBC, PATO, PATA Nepal Chapter, ABTO Bhutan, SHAN Nepal, TAAN, SOTTO, etc. has extended their support to make ABTO Convention a grand success.

PROGRAMME & AGENDA

Sunday, 10th December 2023

1000:1100 hrs: Registration

• Inauguration 6th International ABTO Convention​

• Inauguration of IBTM Travel Haat

• Inauguration of 3rd ICBC International Conference on Kushinagar
  Think About ‘Greater Kushinaga-Think as per the Ancient Scholars with Ancient Royal Route’

Chief Guest
G Kishan Reddy, Honb’le Minister of Tourism, Govt of India

1000 hrs: Delegates starts arriving

1130 hrs: Welcoming of all international and national delegates by Respected Brigadier K. Birendra Singh, Patron ABTO

1330 hrs: Welcome song by artists

1335 hrs: Ribbon cutting & 3rd International Conference on Kushinagar The Sacred Land of Lord Buddha: Think About Greater Kushinagar, Think as per the Ancient Scholars with welcoming by the Chief Guest by the Professor/Scholars on stage in hotel Galaxy Hall, Kushinagar UP.

1400 hrs: Start of inaugural ceremony of the 6th ABTO International Convention, traditional welcome with lighting of lamp in the conference and pray by ‘SARB Dharm‘ (All Religion Together) Lead by Most Ven. Dr Dhammapiya, Secretary General , IBC with all ABTO overseas guests.

1405 hrs: Welcome address by Ven. Kiran Lama, Taijekio Temple (Japan) Bodhgaya
1410 hrs: Presidential address by Dr. Ravindra Panth, ABTO
1420 hrs: Address by Respected V. Vidyavathi, IAS Secretary Tourism Govt of India

1430 hrs: Address by Vinod Zutsi IAS (Rtd.), Former Secretary Tourism, Govt of India
1440 hrs: Address by Regional Director (North) India Tourism Delhi, GOI
1450 hrs: Address by  N. Rusmaiti, M. Si. President, ASITA, Indonesia
1455 hrs: Presentation of Lord Buddha International Peace Awards 2023

1500 hrs: Address by Mallepalli Laxmaiah, Special Officer, Buddhavanam Project
1510 hrs: Address by Dr Effensi Hansen, Goodwill Ambassador, Borobudur Temple, Indonesia
1515 hrs: Address by Dr. Christie Chang, President, International Association of Buddhist Woman, Taiwan

1520 hrs: Address by Dr. Dhananjay Rizbi, CEO Nepal Tourism Board
1525 hrs: Address by the Chief Guest G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Govt. of India
1555 hrs: Presentation of ‘International Tourism Mitra Awards’ 2023

1600 hrs: Address by Bibhuti Chand Thakur, President PATA Nepal
1605 hrs: Address by Captain Sunil Shakya, IPP PATA Nepal
1610 hrs:  Address by Le Hoang Hoa Cuong, Country Head, Vietnam
1615 hrs: Cultural dance presentation by tourism & travel students of India

1625 hrs: Address by Dupto Dorjee, ABTO Head, Bhutan
1630 hrs: Address by Sharmin Afroz, ABTO Head Bangladesh
1635 hrs: Address by Anna Lanka Thilanka, ABTO Head Sri Lanka

1640 hrs: Address by Bikram Pandey Kaaji, Goodwill Ambassador, L.D.T
1645 hrs: Address by Neela Lad, Former Regional Director Tourism, GOI

1650 hrs: Address by Raj Basu, Founder, Help Tourism Siliguri
1655 hrs: Address by Dr Himanshu Bhushan Rout, HoD T&H, Mizoram University

1700 hrs: Address by Dr Supriya Shikari, NSHM, Knowledge Campus, Kolkata
1705 hrs: Address by Dr. Sunil Kabia, Director, Tourism & Hospitality, University of Bundelkhand, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

1710 hrs: Inauguration of ‘Visit Asia 2025‘ & ‘Asia Mahotsav‘, campaign by overseas guests in the presence of chief & special guests

1725 hrs: Address by Special Guest Respected Jaiveer Singh, Honb’le Minister of Tourism & Culture, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

1730 hrs: Presentation of Mementos
1735 hrs: Vote of Thanks by Kaulesh Kumar, Secretary General, ABTO

Monday, 11th December 2023

0630:0730: International Heritage Peace Walk in Pawa or Faizal Nagar

1000:1130 Business Session 01
Tourism Industry, Zero Investment, Eco Friendly with Family Business

Moderator: Vinod Zutsi, Former Secretary Tourism, Govt. of India.
Speakers: Ravi Bankar – Founder Genesis Leisure Consulting, R. V. Singh – MD Shashi Tours, Anand Singh – MD Earthen Experiences.

1130:1200 – Business Session 02
Tourism Generate Foreign Currency & Job Easily
India Has All Reasons to Attract Tourist

Moderator: Somsong Sachaphimukh – Vice President Tourism Council of Thailand
Speakers: Bang On Jayanthia – MD of Shayama Group of Travel Thailand, Madhusudan Acharya – MD of Dynamics Services Nepal, Anna Lankathilaka – MD of Seemax Travel Sri Lanka, Yubika – Secretary of NATTA Nepal.

1400:1500- Business Session: 03
Kushinagar: The Sacred Land of Lord Buddha
Think About the Great Kushinagar: Think as per the Ancient Scholars

Moderator: Dr Ravindra Panth – Former Vice Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed to be University) Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.
Speakers: Dr. Dipankar Lama – Associate Professor, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Nalanda, Sarita Lama-Off the Wall Trekking Nepal, Sharmin Afroz – MD Aturkey Tours Bangladesh.

1500:1540 Presentation by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India by Amit Gupta, Assistant Director, India Tourism Varanasi.

Tuesday, 12th December 2023

0930:1100 – Business Session 04
Revitalizing the Historical & Cultural Significance of Buddhist Heritages Sites
Information, Interpretation and Learning Opportunities

Moderator: Sumit Mathur, MD WOW India Tours, New Delhi
Speakers: Suresh Singh, Niranjana Tours Bodhgaya, Sakya Tours Bodhgaya, Prakash Chandra – Visit Bihar Patna.

1020:1200 State Presentations

• Telangana Tourism

• Jharkhand Tourism

• West Bengal Tourism

• Chhatisgarh Tourism

• Odisha Tourism

• Uttar Pradesh

• Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Tourism

1200:1300 Valedictory Address & Summation

Moderator: Dr. Ravindra Pant, Former Vice Chancellor, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Nalanda.
Speakers: Kailash Prasad – Mahabodhi Temple Bodhgaya, Vishwajit Karmarkar – Mobile Plaza Tours & Travels, Kolkata