Nepal has intensified its international tourism promotion and investment diplomacy at the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2026, with Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Khadak Raj Paudel ‘Ganes’ holding high-level meetings with senior officials and influential representatives from India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sri Lanka. The discussions focused on expanding international air connectivity, increasing tourist arrivals, strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation and attracting investment into Nepal’s tourism industry.
Minister Paudel held special meetings and interactions with India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, and Indian Rajya Sabha member, renowned author and philanthropist Sudha Murty during his participation in WTM London, being held from November 3 to 5, 2026.
The high-level engagements aimed to strengthen Nepal’s tourism relationships with international partners while exploring opportunities for greater cooperation between governments, tourism institutions and private-sector businesses. The meetings also highlighted Nepal’s commitment to positioning tourism as a major contributor to economic growth, employment generation, foreign investment and international cultural relations.
High-Level Talks Focus on International Air Connectivity and Tourism Investment
During the high-level meetings at WTM London 2026, Minister Paudel discussed ways to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation between Nepal and the respective countries, with particular emphasis on expanding international air connectivity, facilitating tourist movement and encouraging investment in tourism-related businesses and infrastructure. The discussions also covered opportunities to increase tourist arrivals through improved international accessibility, promote cultural exchanges and strengthen partnerships between private-sector tourism companies. Greater cooperation with neighbouring countries and international tourism markets was highlighted at WTM as an important approach to expanding Nepal’s tourism reach and creating new business opportunities.
Minister Paudel emphasized that Nepal possesses considerable potential for international tourism partnerships, investment and commercial cooperation. During the WTM interactions, he described tourism as an important sector for driving economic prosperity, creating employment opportunities and strengthening cultural relationships between countries. Highlighting the importance of international collaboration, the minister stated that the government remains committed to connecting Nepal’s tourism promotion efforts with stronger global partnerships through WTM and other international platforms, expanding air connectivity, increasing tourist arrivals and creating new investment opportunities.
He also emphasized the government’s objective of making Nepal an attractive, safe and competitive destination in the international tourism market through more effective cooperation with neighbouring and partner countries. The meetings further highlighted Nepal’s distinctive tourism assets, including its cultural heritage, Himalayan geography, natural landscapes, adventure tourism opportunities, spiritual destinations and emerging wellness tourism experiences. Promoting these products more effectively in international markets was also discussed as a means of attracting diverse categories of travellers.
Nepal Highlights Wellness Tourism and Sustainable Travel at WTM London 2026
Nepal has placed sustainable and responsible tourism, Himalayan adventure activities, cultural heritage, spiritual experiences and wellness tourism among its major promotional priorities at this year’s WTM London. Particular emphasis has been given to the country’s preparation to promote 2027 as Nepal Wellness Tourism Year. Through this initiative, Nepal aims to strengthen its international identity as a destination for wellness-oriented travel, highlighting experiences associated with yoga, meditation, spirituality, mental peace and natural healing practices.
Nepal’s Himalayan environment, peaceful natural surroundings, traditional healing knowledge and rich spiritual heritage provide opportunities to develop distinctive wellness tourism products for international visitors. By presenting these experiences to international travel professionals and buyers, Nepal aims to attract travellers seeking relaxation, rejuvenation, holistic well-being and meaningful cultural experiences. The wellness tourism initiative is also expected to complement Nepal’s established tourism products, including trekking, mountaineering, wildlife experiences and cultural tours.
Alongside wellness promotion, the country is emphasizing responsible tourism practices and the importance of conserving its natural and cultural resources while ensuring that tourism benefits local communities. Through its participation at WTM, Nepal is seeking to diversify its tourism offerings, reach new international market segments and strengthen its competitiveness in the evolving global travel industry.
Nepal Pavilion Showcases Tourism Products with Participation of 32 Companies
A Nepali delegation led by Minister Paudel, comprising representatives from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), government agencies and private-sector tourism businesses, is participating in the three-day international travel trade event. Representatives from airlines, hotels, travel companies and tour operators have also joined the delegation to promote Nepal’s tourism services and destinations. Minister Paudel inaugurated the Nepal Pavilion at WTM London 2026, where 32 Nepali tourism companies are showcasing the country’s destinations, travel services and tourism products from stand number N8-530.
The participation provides Nepali tourism businesses with an important opportunity to connect with international travel buyers, tour operators, travel agencies and other industry stakeholders. Through direct business interactions, participating companies are promoting their tourism packages, exploring new source markets and seeking potential commercial partnerships with international counterparts. WTM London brings together major global tourism businesses, international travel buyers, media representatives and tourism service providers, making it an important platform for destination promotion and business networking.
Nepal is utilizing the event to strengthen its international tourism network, increase the visibility of its destinations and establish business relationships that could contribute to future tourist arrivals and investment. The combined participation of government representatives and private-sector companies also reflects Nepal’s approach to promoting the country through coordinated public-private sector engagement. The initiative is expected to create opportunities for Nepali tourism businesses to expand their international market presence and develop stronger connections with global travel industry partners.
‘Nepal Is Open’ Campaign Promotes Major Destinations and Tourism Readiness
Alongside international destination promotion and business networking, Nepal has also used WTM London 2026 to communicate the country’s tourism readiness following recent floods and landslides that affected different parts of the country. Although rehabilitation and reconstruction activities are continuing in affected areas, Nepal has conveyed that major tourism destinations, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, the Annapurna region and the Everest region, continue to welcome visitors, subject to local conditions and travel advisories.
Through the ‘Nepal Is Open’ campaign, the country is seeking to provide international travellers and travel trade partners with information about the availability of tourism activities and the condition of major destinations. The campaign also aims to address concerns among international visitors and encourage travel to Nepal by highlighting the destinations where tourism activities are continuing. Nepal has further emphasized that international tourism plays an important role in supporting local businesses, generating employment and sustaining the livelihoods of communities that depend on tourism. Encouraging international visitors to travel to Nepal is therefore being presented not only as a destination promotion effort but also as a way to support tourism-dependent communities and local economic recovery.
The high-level diplomatic engagements, tourism promotion activities and participation of private-sector businesses at WTM London 2026 reflect Nepal’s broader efforts to strengthen its international tourism presence. By prioritizing improved air connectivity, foreign investment, wellness tourism, sustainable travel and international business partnerships, Nepal aims to increase tourist arrivals, explore new source markets and establish itself as a more accessible and competitive destination in the global tourism industry.
