The country’s biggest tourism event titled ‘Himalayan Travel Mart 2018’ was held on a grand scale under the theme ‘Nepal, Gateway to the Himalaya’ to promote the tourism potential of Nepal.

Nepal Tourism Board, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal chapter and other travel and tourism organizations organised the event.

Event Highlights

The three-day event was held in three different phases:

• June 1, 2018: Himalayan Travel Mart Conference
• June 2, 2018: International Travel Bloggers & Media Conference (ITBMC)
• June 3, 2018: Buyers & Sellers Meet (Business Sessions)

Overall, the Himalayan Travel Mart 2018 saw over 250 representatives from 37 countries including Nepal.

Some of the highlights include:

• Various delegates from 53 countries
• 225 foreign delegates and more than 350 local participants
• 107 International Travel Bloggers, Influencers and Media
• More than 15+ high-profile speakers
• 74 international buyers and more than 50 sellers from local and international markets
• More than 1500 pre-matched business appointments

Key dignitaries to the event include:

• Tashi Tenzing Sherpa, the youngest son of Pem Pem (eldest daughter of the renowned Tenzing Norgay)
• Madhur Bhandarkar, an Indian Film Director and Screenwriter
• Matt Gibson, an award-winning travel blogger and widely-published photographer
• Adrain Hayes, a British-based record-breaking adventurer, among others

Tourism on Priority

The three-phase #HimalayanTravelMart2018 began with the theme ‘Sustainable Road to Five Million Visitors’.

Various speakers and eminent local personalities who participated in the conference expressed hope that the mart will boost tourism activity in the country and pitched for implementation of innovative ways to promote Nepal tourism.

In his inaugural address, Nepali Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali said, “Nepal has prioritized tourism for development and economic growth. As we have entered the new phase of stability and development, we are committed to bringing in two million tourists in two years.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi expressed hope that the mart will boost the country’s tourism activity further.

Various other speakers urged on the need for viral marketing, efficient digital marketing strategies, enhancement of tourism infrastructure and related services to meet the set tourist arrivals target.

They also stressed on the need for special focus on tourist arrivals from the neighboring nations as a means to promote Nepal tourism.

Besides conference, Himalayan Travel Mart also saw an International Travel Bloggers & Media Conference in the second phase and Buyers & Sellers Meet in the third phase.

Two Million Target

Riding on the recent success of nearly one million tourist arrival mark at the end of 2017, Nepal Government is now aiming at a new target of two million tourist arrivals by 2020.

The Oli-led government is planning the country’s third national-level initiative ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ in the series after the Visit Nepal Year in 1998 and the Nepal Tourism Year in 2011.

It is noteworthy that the Nepali tourism sector received a due push even in the Federal Budget for FY 2018-19.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation received a total budget of Rs 5.20 billion, which accounted to 0.4 percent of the total 1.31 trillion budget for the next fiscal.

As part of the budget announcement, the government also announced the development of 100 new tourist spots and diversification of tourism infrastructure & services across the country towards strengthening the country’s tourism potential, especially the domestic tourism.

Let’s hope the new moves will add to Nepal’s tourism potential on a global scale!

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