As the formal inauguration of Koshi Tourism Year 2082 approaches, tourism entrepreneurs are preparing to establish closer ties with Indian tourists. A cross-border tourism cooperation agreement is set to be signed between the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Koshi and the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators (EHTTO) India. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to inaugurate Koshi Tourism Year on Chaitra 27 (April 9, 2025) in Tehrathum’s Tinjure region.
In conjunction with this event, a bilateral agreement is being planned with Indian tourism networks to attract more tourists to Koshi Province. According to NATTA Koshi Chairperson Punya Bhattarai, representatives from 107 travel agencies affiliated with EHTTO will arrive at Mechi Crown in Mechinagar on Monday, where NATTA will host a welcome program. A bilateral cooperation agreement will be signed on Tuesday. After the ‘Cross-Border Tourism Conclave,’ the Indian delegates will be taken on a tour of the inauguration area.
Bhattarai noted that around 75% of tourists in Nepal arrive through travel agencies, and building trust with Indian agencies is vital to ensure a smooth experience for Indian travelers in Nepal. He emphasized the need to understand how to retain Indian tourists in Koshi’s unique environment. Tourism professionals believe the tourism year should not only promote the hilly and Himalayan areas of Koshi but also develop the Terai districts as tourism hubs.
They highlighted the importance of creating plans to encourage Indian tourists to stay overnight in Biratnagar, as well as in Jhapa and Sunsari. Bhabish Kumar Shrestha, a hotel entrepreneur from Biratnagar and co-coordinator of the Koshi Tourism Year Secretariat, stated that the events starting in Tinjure, Tehrathum, would continue for an entire year. He said the tourism campaign is uniquely meaningful for the province and that coordination and consultations with Indian tourism stakeholders are ongoing.
Minister of Tourism, Forests, and Environment of Koshi Province, Sadanand Mandal, stated that the tourism year will include year-round activities with infrastructure development to meet its goals. Invitations have been extended to chief ministers and ministers from all seven provinces under the slogan “Charming Koshi Province.”
The Koshi Provincial Government has allocated a budget of Rs. 100 million for the current fiscal year (2081/82) to launch the tourism year under the slogan: “The Pride of Koshi, the Glory of the Himalayas Respect for All in the Tourism Year.” Minister Mandal emphasized the promotion of four major religious sites Baraha Kshetra, Halesi, Pathibhara, and Ramdhuni and eco-tourism trekking routes.
The government also plans to establish tourism information centers at four major entry points with India to streamline data collection during the tourism year. Koshi Province currently has 14 major tourist destinations and 16 potential new ones. Around 48,000 third-country tourists visit annually. In 2022, 1,500 mountaineers arrived in the region. According to entrepreneur Shrestha, Koshi has 12-star hotels, 36 tourist-level hotels, and 105 private and community homestays.
