Nepal Tourism Board recently concluded a series of highly successful destination and business promotion sessions in Gwangju and Seoul, Republic of Korea, aimed at revitalizing Korean outbound tourism to Nepal. These events, organized in collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal in Seoul and the Korea Tours and Trekking Operators’ Association of Nepal (KOTTAN), saw participation from over 100 Korean tour operators and media personnel.
The highlight of the events was the B2B meetings where 13 companies coordinated by KOTTAN engaged in fruitful discussions with their Korean counterparts. The objective was to introduce new tourism products and highlight Nepal’s diverse offerings in adventure, spiritual, cultural, and niche tourism segments.
Her Excellency Dr. Jyoti Pyakuryal (Bhandari), Ambassador of Nepal to Korea, emphasized the significance of these events in fostering new market segments and promoting sustainable tourism practices. She urged Korean tour operators to collaborate in enhancing arrivals, particularly in promoting religious, spiritual, and adventure tourism packages.
Mr. Pushpa Raj Bhattarai, Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Nepal in Seoul, underscored the role of tourism in enhancing bilateral relations between Nepal and Korea, especially as both countries celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Mr. Hikmat Singh Ayer, Senior Director of Nepal Tourism Board, delivered presentations on ‘Destination Nepal’ and ‘Investment Opportunities in Nepal’s Tourism Sector,’ showcasing the country’s tourism potential and inviting Korean investors to explore opportunities.
The events also received enthusiastic support from Korean tourism figures including Mr. Byun, Gi Tae from the Korean Alpine Club and Mr. Lee Euijae from the Korea Alpine Federation, who highlighted the strong affinity Korean tourists have towards Nepal.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Amar Bahadur Shahi, President of KOTTAN, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and encouraged Korean tour operators to experience Nepal’s beauty firsthand. As part of the event, KOTTAN also awarded three tour packages to lucky draw winners among the Korean tour operators.
These initiatives follow Nepal’s Sales Mission in Seoul and Busan in 2023, further solidifying efforts to boost Korean tourist arrivals, which have shown a promising recovery reaching 80% of pre-COVID levels by May 2024.
