India targets foreign chains to develop hotels in Buddhist circuits
Express Hospitality, July 15, 2007
New Delhi, India -- In order to further develop infrastructure in Buddhist circuits, the ministry of tourism is trying its best to draw foreign hotel chains to the country's Buddhist circuits develop hotels.
Union tourism & culture minister, Ambika Soni, said, "We are trying to persuade the finance ministry to give tax holidays to hoteliers in Buddhist circuits.
The infrastructure upgradation has been taken in a big way through identification of 22 important Buddhist sites throughout the country. The government has sanctioned 14 projects amounting to Rs 57.22 crore for development of tourism infrastructure in 12 sites."
The ministry has also entered into an agreement for undertaking infrastructure development at Buddhist sites of Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Shravasti and Sankisa in UP, with JBIC for a loan assistance of Rs 395.63 crore for total project of Rs 680 crore.
