Kathmandu’s Bhrikutimandap has come alive today with the inauguration of the International Tourism Fair, an event meticulously crafted to catapult Nepal’s tourism onto the global stage.
Inaugural Ceremony Highlights:
In a grand opening ceremony, the Honorable Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Hit Bahadur Tamang, articulated his optimism regarding the fair’s capacity to amplify Nepal’s international tourism appeal. He underscored the government’s unwavering resolve to surmount this year’s tourism challenges and meet the ambitious target of attracting at least 1.6 million tourists in 2024.
Strategic Government Initiatives and Aspirations:
Minister Tamang outlined that Nepal welcomed one million tourists in 2023 and highlighted the government’s vigorous efforts to boost this figure to 1.6 million in 2024. He detailed initiatives such as the removal of VAT on air tickets and the elimination of other superfluous taxes to invigorate tourism promotion. The minister assured that current obstacles would be addressed before the budget’s approval to ensure seamless operations within the sector.
The government is implementing proactive strategies to mitigate issues within the tourism industry, including the abolition of various taxes to encourage development and promotion. Minister Tamang reaffirmed that these concerns would be promptly resolved. He also emphasized Nepal’s status as a must-visit destination in the global tourism market, noting the government’s commencement of infrastructure development in promising tourist regions.
Collaborative Endeavors for Tourism Enhancement:
The enhancement of the tourism sector is viewed as a fundamental pillar for the nation’s prosperity. Minister Tamang stressed the government’s objective to collaborate closely with organizations within the tourism industry to realize this vision.
Diverse International Participation and Exhibition Overview:
The International Tourism Fair showcases a diverse array of participants from Nepal, India, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Maldives, the United States, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, Dubai, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bhutan. Orchestrated by Summit Events Markets, the fair boasts a substantial budget exceeding NPR 10 million.
Bishnu Pandey, Managing Director of Summit Events Markets and the fair’s coordinator highlighted that the event aims to integrate Nepal’s tourism sector with the international community. With primary support from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the fair is anticipated to draw over a thousand visitors.
Prospects for International Tourism Promotion:
The organizers are confident that the fair will forge new opportunities for Nepal to elevate its tourism presence internationally by uniting tourism businesses from various nations. The event at Bhrikutimandap, featuring 155 tourism businesses from 16 countries, will continue until tomorrow, promising to be a significant milestone in Nepal’s tourism development journey.
