In 2015, at a high-level inter-ministerial meeting organized by UNWTO in Maldives, South Asian Governments from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives requested the World Bank’s support to develop the region’s Budhhist Circuit. In response, the Bank launched the Program for the Development of the Budhhist Circuit in South Asia which aimed at generating knowledge, tools and spaces for better informed and more inclusive policy making and investing in the circuit, it’s destination, assets and people.

Lumbini is one of the six priority areas identified in the Government’s 2020 Tourism Vision and National Tourism Strategy Plan. The Greater Lumbini Region consists of the 5×5 miles around  Lumbini, Tilaurakot-Kapilvastu and Ramagrama sites as per the UNESCO mapping. The Budhhist Circuit in South Asia Phase II program focuses on the facilitation of the preparation of an Inclusive and Sustainable Master Plan for the Greater Lumbini  Region, the establishment of women-led social enterprises in lumbini and to to provide advisory support in the preparation and implementation of various activities, such as, sensitization campaigns on female labor participation and preparation of destination marketing strategy.