Dr. Nitin S. Kulkarni, Associate Professor, MET IOM at the Bodhgaya Dialogue on Leveraging India’s Buddhist Heritage for Soft Power, Cultural, Economic, and Security Integration, held at IIM Bodh Gaya on 19th September 2025, presented a paper on Unlocking the Economic Potential of Buddhist Tourism: Regional Partnerships, Cultural Circuits, and Sustainable Growth.

In his paper, Dr. Kulkarni examined India’s position in the global tourism landscape, with particular emphasis on the potential of Buddhist heritage as a driver of sustainable development. He identified key challenges that constrain India’s growth in this sector and proposed the 5-T Model - Tourism, Trade, Technology, Transparency, and Trust - as a holistic framework to address them.

He emphasized that this model can enable stronger regional partnerships, facilitate the creation of vibrant cultural circuits, and promote sustainable growth in the Buddhist neighbourhood with India as the central hub. His presentation underscored how Buddhist tourism, if strategically nurtured, can serve as both an economic catalyst and a vital component of India’s cultural diplomacy.