Tawang, May 6: A two-day regional workshop focusing on the development of the Buddhist Circuit in Northeast India and the promotion of women-led rural tourism was inaugurated on Wednesday by Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein at Hotel Vivanta in Tawang.
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| Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein during the inauguration of the regional workshop on Buddhist Circuit development and women-led rural tourism in Tawang on Tuesday. (Image: IPR Tawang) |
The workshop, being held on May 6 and 7, has been organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with the South Asia Women’s Network (SAWN) and the Tawang district administration.
The event brought together delegates and representatives from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Assam, along with women leaders and public representatives from across Arunachal Pradesh. Dignitaries present included Minister Dasanglu Pul, MLA Nyabi Jini Dirchi, Tsering Lhamu, women ZPCs and mayors from different parts of the state.
Addressing the inaugural session, Chowna Mein highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s rich Buddhist heritage, biodiversity and growing tourism potential, especially in eco-tourism, trekking and adventure tourism. He also spoke about improving connectivity infrastructure in the region, saying better transportation facilities are making travel to the state more accessible for visitors.
Referring to his recent visit to Sri Lanka, Mein emphasised the deep cultural and spiritual ties shared between Arunachal Pradesh and Buddhist nations in South Asia. He urged delegates to explore the state’s diverse traditions, landscapes and spiritual centres.
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed the importance of adopting a collaborative and professional approach towards developing the Buddhist Circuit in Northeast India. He expressed hope that the discussions and recommendations emerging from the workshop would become a landmark initiative for regional tourism cooperation and be remembered as the “Tawang Initiative.”
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Ambassador Veena Sikri, Founding Trustee and Convenor of the South Asia Women’s Network, outlined the objectives of the workshop and underscored the role of women-led rural tourism in generating sustainable livelihoods, preserving cultural heritage and strengthening regional cooperation.
Delegation leaders from Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka also addressed the gathering, sharing their perspectives on enhancing Buddhist tourism linkages and strengthening people-to-people connections across the region.
During the programme, Dr. Pooja Dabral of Nalanda University joined via video conferencing and highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in building sustainable and culturally rooted Buddhist tourism networks in South Asia.
The workshop is expected to promote stronger regional partnerships, boost tourism opportunities and enhance women’s participation in rural economic development through Buddhist heritage tourism.
