The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) represented Nepal at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Summit 2025, held in Istanbul, Turkey, from April 21 to 23. The three-day event, themed “Timeless Wisdom for a Sustainable Future,” brought together global tourism leaders to explore strategies for advancing responsible and sustainable travel.
During the Government and Ministerial Session on “Building a Sustainable Future,” NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi showcased Nepal’s success in ecotourism, community-based tourism practices, and its ongoing sustainability initiatives. He also highlighted the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambad, a global dialogue on climate change and sustainability, scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from May 16 to 18, 2025.
In his address to the international tourism community, CEO Joshi extended an invitation to global buyers and travel professionals to participate in the Himalayan Travel Mart 2025, being organized by NTB in collaboration with the PATA Nepal Chapter from June 3 to 5 in Kathmandu. The event aims to spotlight Nepal’s rich and diverse tourism offerings and strengthen international tourism partnerships.
On the sidelines of the summit, NTB and PATA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly work on a Tourism White Paper, establish collaborative forums, and support institutional capacity-building efforts. NTB also held a strategic meeting with Dr. Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), to discuss potential collaboration on sustainability accreditation, destination memberships, training programs, and research on sustainable tourism development.
Throughout the summit, NTB delegates actively engaged with tourism experts, data scientists, AI professionals, and sustainability leaders in various side meetings. These interactions emphasized the importance of data-driven strategies and innovation in repositioning Nepal as a destination that delivers authentic, transformative, and sustainable travel experiences.
