APPOINTMENT : ABTO ANNOUNCES GOVERNING BODY COMMITTEE FORMATION OF WEST BENGAL CHAPTER

TTT NEWS NETWORK

KOLKATA | 6 JUNE 2025

“ We are pleased to announce the formation  of the Governing Body Committee of the West Bengal Chapter of   the Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO),”says Dr. Kaulesh Kumar, Secrtary General of Association of Buddhist Tour Operators (ABTO).

“The West Bengal Chapter of ABTO, already a beacon for  Buddhist tourism, has taken a significant step forward by forming this dedicated committee entrusted with greater responsibility, renewed  capability, and a collective mission to advance the promotion of tourism. This team is committed to the promotion of Cultural and Heritage  values’ and will work tirelessly to spread these values, highlight key destinations, and strengthen cultural connections across Bengal and  beyond,” said Dr. Kaulesh Kumar. Mr. Bidyut Mitra,of Smooth Trips is the head of ABTO ( West Bengal Chapter).

LIST OF WEST BENGAL ABTO – GOVERNING BODY COMMITTEE 

“This Governing Body Committee of the ABTO – West Bengal Chapter is not just an  administrative formation, but a spiritual and cultural movement, committed to   the propagation of heritage, and values. Together, we move forward—with strength in purpose and unity in spirit, said Mr. Bidyut Mitra.

About ABTO:  

ABTO is a Non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization working with National and  International Tourism or Buddhist associations, Institutions, Organizations of the world to promote  cultural tourism, natural tourism, protect and explore monuments of the world especially Asian  Countries. 

ABTO is working for Tourism as a Platform of Tourism with Buddhism in more than 25 Countries with the  support of about 1000 members, 5000 non-members, 20 International & 30 National Organizations, 15  Government organizations, 10 Institutions, etc worldwide headquartered in Nalanda, Bihar, India since  2015.

ABTO was established in the 10 December year 2015 in Nalanda, Bihar – the Land of Dhamma & Wisdom,  and is a common forum of like-minded Tour Operators and Tourism service providers, Scholars, Monks,  Officers who are promoting Tourism especially in Buddhist pilgrimage/Spiritual/Cultural in the Tourism  Industry in the world, especially in India-Nepal-Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Thailand, Indonesia,  Vietnam, Taiwan, Myanmar and other countries of Asia- Pacific.

United by the motto: 

One World! 

One Tourism!! 

One Platform – ABTO !!! 

ABTO aims to promote Tourism in Buddhist Sectors and principles of global tourism by presenting a  united Tourism with Buddhism voice on issues that concern all tourism stakeholders.

In recent times, ABTO has formed collaborative partnerships & signed MoU with various International  Tourism Associations (like Association of Indonesian Travel Agents-ASITA-Indonesia, Nepal Tourism  Board-NTB, Association of Thailand Travel Agency-ATTA-Thailand, Nepal Association of Tour & Travels  Agencies-NATTA-Nepal, Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh-TOAB-Bangladesh, TEATA

Thailand, Hotel Association of Nepal-HAN-Nepal, Tourism Council of Thailand-TCT-Thailand, TTAA Thailand, ABTO-Bhutan, SHAN-Nepal, TAAN-Nepal, Union of Myanmar Travel Agents-UMTA-Myanmar,  International Buddhist Confederation-IBC-India, SATTE-South Asian Tourism & Travel Exhibition, PATA Nepal, PATO-Pakistan Association of Tour Operators, BDPTA-Vietnam,Asian Tourism Fair-ATF Bangladesh etc.) in the world especially in Asia and South East Asia for joint marketing and promotion  of Tourism sectors and others like Buddhist Tourism, Spiritual, Culture & Nature Tourism products in the  world especially in Asia Pacific.

With extensive knowledge, expertise and experience in the Tourism & Buddhist Sector will  help ABTO in strengthening and promoting the Buddhist pilgrimage in the Tourism Industry.

The ABTO International Convention, International Buddhist Travel Mart-IBTM, International Conference  on Buddhist Circuits-ICBC, Lord Buddhist International Peace Award-LBIPA and International Tourism  Mitra Award-ITMA, International Heritage Peace Walk, etc. acts as a high calibre forum at which Inbound,  Domestic and Outbound players (tour operators, travel agencies, hotel operators, investors, tourism  officials and other stakeholders, Guide, etc.) can meet international travel industry.

IBTM-Travel HAAT also provides opportunities in which the tourism aspects of the Buddhist Circuits,  Spiritual, Culture & Tradition Sectors and the policies, government initiatives and schemes are conveyed  to the invitees and participants.

With the support of Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Indian State Tourism and others National and  International Organizations, the 5th ABTO International Convention, 5th IBTM, 2^nd ICBC, 5th LBIPA  and 5^th ITMA was held in 09-11 December 2022 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, and the 6th ABTO  International Convention, 6th IBTM, 3^rd ICBC, 6^th LBIPA and 6^th ITMA, 1^st International Tourism Dance  Festival was also held in 10, 11 & 12 December 2023 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, and one of the  top Buddhist Tourism Events of the travel & tourism industry of Asia with grand success.

Where more than 300 attended including 19 Countries participated with 73 Foreign Delegates.

“We hope that the 7^th ABTO International Convention, 10, 11, 12 December 2025, in Vaishali, Bihar, India  will become one of the top Pilgrimage Tourism Events of the travel and tourism industry of Asia in the  years to come,” concluded Dr. Kaulesh Kumar.