Sustainable Religious Tourism: Unlocking the Potential of Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan

Abstract

This study looks at how Pakistan can promote sustainable religious tourism by making better use of its Buddhist World Heritage Sites, especially Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi. To explore this, the research combines different methods such as literature review, case studies, surveys, and interviews with key stakeholders. The aim is to understand both the opportunities and the challenges in positioning Pakistan as part of the global Buddhist pilgrimage network. The findings show that there is strong international interest, particularly from countries with large Buddhist populations. However, several barriers hold back progress, including poor infrastructure, weak branding, and fragmented policies. By learning from successful global practices, the paper suggests that developing sustainable Buddhist religious tourism in Pakistan could not only boost the economy but also help preserve cultural heritage and strengthen international cultural ties.