New Delhi: Aiming at attracting more tourists and creating job opportunities, government today launched a strategy for integrated tourism development of the Buddhist sector in collaboration with the World Bank. Dubbed as "Investing in the Buddhist Circuit", the Rs 450 lakh initiative would be carried out for development of Buddhist heritage sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the first stage.

While International Finance Corporation, a wing of World Bank, will provide Rs 180 lakh, Tourism Ministry would contribute Rs 225 lakh and the contribution of Bihar and UP is Rs 22.50 lakh each for the project. The strategy aims at infrastructure development, skill development, increased market access, involvement of communities and enhancing the visitors experience in the Buddhist circuit.