Nepal-India tourism meet held

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 12: The Embassy of India, Kathmandu, in association with the Nepal Tourism Board, jointly organised the 1st India-Nepal Tourism Meet on 10 December 2024. 

The event focused on promoting Mahakumbha 2025 in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and creating B2B connections to foster the implementation of circuit tourism between India and Nepal, according to a press statement issued by the Embassy of India on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Arun Kumar Chaudhary said that cross-border tourism especially through land routes is a big contributor to tourism in Nepal even though not captured in formal statistics. He also suggested that both sides need to focus on cross-border connectivity, particularly in remote areas such as in the Sudurpaschim Province.

Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board appreciated that India was the biggest source of foreign tourists visiting Nepal and highlighted various initiatives taken by the Board to foster India-Nepal tourism.

Similarly, Shri Prasanna Shrivastava, Charge`d’affairs ad interim, Embassy of India, underscored the developments in physical and digital connectivity that are driving tourism flows between India and Nepal. 

He also stressed on continued joint efforts of both sides to fully leverage the India-Nepal tourism potential, including through the promotion of religious and cultural circuits involving places in Nepal and the neighbouring states of India.

The B2B event at the Meet was attended by 13 delegates from India and 60 tour operators from Nepal. The discussions focused on promoting cross-border tourism, especially through the land route. Tour operators from both sides deliberated on possible travel plans for visitors from both sides including in the context of Ramayana and Buddhist circuits.

As part of the programme, the Nepal Tourism Board organised a familiarisation trip for visiting delegates and tour operators from the state of Uttar Pradesh to Janakpur and Kathmandu on December 8 and 9, 2024. 

The event concluded with a Kathak dance performance by an eight-member troupe from India supported by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.