In an attempt to promote its rich ancient Buddhist heritage, India today launched a new campaign in Cambodia through tuk-tuks (three wheelers) which will spread the message of shared cultural and religious heritage between the two countries.
Indian Ambassador in Phnom Penh, Devyani Khobragade flagged off several three wheelers carrying the infographics of Incredible India posters of Buddhist sites in Bihar and Maharashtra states of India from the embassy premises on Thursday.
India has in the past launched 'Incredible India Road Shows' in Cambodia with the objective of promoting and showcasing India as a preferred destination for tourists from Cambodia.
The two nations have deep-rooted historical and cultural links. The historic Angkor Wat and other temples reflect the shared cultural and religious heritage. There is also a strong linguistic connection between India and Cambodia with around 3000 words common in Sanskrit and Khmer languages.
The Indian Buddhist heritage is of great interest to the followers of Buddhism the world over including Cambodia. The Indian government has already put a lot of emphasis to boost tourist inflow to the important Buddhist places of pilgrimage.
Highlighting the theme of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (Guest is God), India, the land of yoga and ayurveda, is already a sought-after destination for wellness and healthcare travel.
The e-Tourist Visa facility, which was also extended to Cambodia, has led to the ease of travel to India. Before Covid-19 pandemic halted international travel, the number of foreign tourist arrivals from Cambodia had seen a steady increase over the last few years.
