A tourism promotion and business-to-business (B2B) meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand with the aim of increasing Thai tourist arrivals in Nepal and strengthening cooperation between the tourism industries of both Nepal and Thailand. A tourism discussion and business-to-business (B2B) networking program aimed at increasing the inflow of Thai tourists to Nepal was successfully organized in Bangkok on Friday. The event brought together leading tourism entrepreneurs, travel operators, airline representatives, and hospitality stakeholders from both countries, marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation.
The program was designed with the primary objective of promoting Nepal as a diverse, accessible, and attractive destination for Thai travelers while expanding professional networks between tourism industries of Nepal and Thailand. According to organizers, the interaction is expected to open new avenues for collaboration, product development, and joint promotional activities in the post-pandemic tourism recovery era.
Ambassador Highlights Deep Historical and Cultural Connections
During the event, Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Dhan Bahadur Oli, emphasized that tourism plays a vital role in further strengthening the long-standing historical, religious, cultural, and people-to-people relations between Nepal and Thailand.
He noted that both countries share deep-rooted Buddhist heritage and cultural affinity, which forms a natural foundation for tourism exchange. According to him, Nepal’s identity as the birthplace of Lord Buddha and Thailand’s strong Buddhist traditions create an ideal platform for spiritual and cultural tourism growth.
Ambassador Oli also encouraged Thai tourism entrepreneurs to actively explore Nepal’s tourism potential and collaborate with Nepali counterparts to develop attractive travel packages that cater to Thai tourists’ preferences, including pilgrimage tours, nature-based experiences, and luxury adventure travel.
Major B2B Networking Between Tourism Stakeholders of Nepal and Thailand
The B2B networking session was organized on 29 May 2026 at the Amari Hotel in Bangkok, where more than 100 representatives from the tourism industry participated. The event witnessed the participation of 18 prominent Nepali tourism-related companies and over 63 Thai tourism companies, facilitating direct interaction and business negotiations.
From Nepal, participants included major hospitality and travel service providers such as Dusit Princess Kathmandu, Aloft Kathmandu, and Hotel Royal Singi. Other participating organizations included trekking and adventure operators such as Karnali Rafting, Mountain Routes, Kathmandu Holiday Tours and Travel, Pumori Journey, Himalayan Holidays, Adventure X Nepal, Lapara D Tour, Apex Himalaya Treks and Expeditions, Project Uddeshya, The Pavilion Himalayas Farm, Himalaya Treasures Trekking, Himalayan Journey, Baran Village Community Homestay, and Core Treks Nepal.
Air connectivity and aviation representation were also highlighted through participation from Nepal Airlines and Buddha Air. On the Thai side, more than 60 companies engaged in outbound tourism, travel facilitation, and hospitality services participated, reflecting strong interest in Nepal as a destination.
Nepal Presented as a Multi-Dimensional Tourism Destination
During the presentations, Nepali tourism entrepreneurs highlighted Nepal as a multi-dimensional tourism destination suitable for diverse travel interests. Key attractions showcased included Lumbini, Janakpur, Kathmandu Valley heritage sites, the Everest region, the Annapurna trekking circuit, wildlife tourism in national parks, yoga and wellness tourism, destination weddings, film tourism, and high-altitude adventure activities.
Speakers emphasized that Nepal is not limited to adventure trekking alone but offers a balanced tourism portfolio that includes spiritual journeys, cultural immersion, luxury stays, eco-tourism, and community-based tourism experiences. Thai tourism stakeholders expressed that Nepal holds strong potential among Thai travelers due to its religious significance, scenic landscapes, and growing accessibility through improved air connectivity and simplified travel procedures.
Tourist Flow Trends and Data Presentation
The Embassy also presented statistical data comparing Thai tourist arrivals in Nepal over the past 13 years. Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Motiram Bhatta Shrestha highlighted that while overall outbound tourism from Thailand has increased globally, Nepal’s share of Thai outbound tourists has not grown proportionately.
According to the data presented, 40,969 Thai tourists visited Nepal in 2013, while 30,243 Thai tourists traveled to Nepal in 2025. This decline, despite Nepal’s expanded tourism offerings and global visibility, was noted as an area requiring stronger promotional efforts and strategic engagement with Thai travel markets. Officials stressed that Nepal holds significant untapped potential in the Thai outbound tourism segment, especially given Thailand’s large and growing travel market.
Visa Facilitation and Ease of Travel Emphasized
A key component of the program included an orientation on Nepal’s tourist visa application system for Thai travel operators. Participants were informed that Nepal’s visa process is fully online and streamlined to ensure ease of access for international visitors.
Officials also highlighted that in urgent cases, visas can be processed and issued within a very short timeframe. This was presented as part of Nepal’s broader effort to improve travel convenience and encourage higher tourist inflows. The embassy encouraged Thai travel agencies to actively promote Nepal as an easy-to-access destination with simplified entry procedures and supportive travel infrastructure.
Strengthening Private Sector Collaboration
Participants from both countries expressed strong interest in expanding private sector collaboration through joint tourism products, co-marketing campaigns, and familiarization trips. Thai operators suggested packaging Nepal with regional multi-country tours, while Nepali businesses emphasized tailored travel experiences designed specifically for Thai preferences. The program also highlighted the importance of digital promotion, social media marketing, and collaborative content creation to reach younger travelers and niche tourism segments such as wellness tourism, wedding tourism, and film tourism.
Embassy Commitment to Continued Promotion
The Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok stated that promotional materials developed by Nepali tourism companies will be regularly published and promoted through embassy channels. This initiative aims to maintain visibility of Nepal’s tourism offerings in the Thai market and support ongoing engagement between industry stakeholders.
Officials expressed confidence that the B2B meeting will serve as a foundation for long-term cooperation, leading to increased tourist arrivals, stronger business partnerships, and enhanced cultural exchange between the two countries.
The tourism dialogue and B2B networking event in Bangkok marked an important milestone in Nepal–Thailand tourism relations. By bringing together key industry players from both sides, the program successfully created a platform for dialogue, business networking, and strategic collaboration.
With Nepal positioning itself as a diverse destination offering spiritual, cultural, and adventure experiences, and Thailand representing a major outbound tourism market, both countries are expected to benefit from deeper tourism integration in the coming years.
