Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organized a special mountain flight for foreign diplomats and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal (MoFA) on the sidelines of the Sixty-Second Programming Committee Meeting of SAARC, held in Kathmandu on February 11–12. The meeting was hosted by the SAARC Secretariat.
Promoting Nepal Through Experiential Tourism
The mountain flight was organized as part of NTB’s efforts to give visiting diplomats a firsthand experience of Nepal’s world-renowned Himalayan landscape. The aerial tour offered close views of iconic snow-capped peaks, highlighting Nepal’s unique positioning as a premier global destination for mountain tourism.
According to officials, such experiential initiatives help foreign representatives better understand the country’s natural assets and tourism potential beyond formal meetings and discussions.
Strengthening Regional Tourism Cooperation
The program forms part of a long-term joint partnership between MoFA and NTB aimed at promoting Nepal’s tourism sector through diplomatic engagement. By integrating tourism-focused activities into regional meetings, the initiative seeks to strengthen multilateral ties among SAARC member states and encourage collaborative promotion of South Asia’s diverse tourism products.
Officials emphasized that tourism diplomacy can play a vital role in building people-to-people connections, enhancing cultural understanding, and creating new avenues for regional cooperation.
Showcasing Competitive Edge in Mountain Tourism
NTB stated that the mountain flight also reinforces Nepal’s competitive advantage in Himalayan and adventure tourism. By directly exposing international delegates to the country’s natural grandeur, Nepal aims to position itself as a leading hub for high-altitude experiences, eco-tourism, and cultural travel.
The initiative aligns with broader national efforts to support government agencies in promoting Nepal internationally while fostering mutually beneficial tourism partnerships across the region.
Participation and Engagement
A total of 22 representatives from SAARC member states, the MoFA, and NTB took part in the mountain flight. Participants described the experience as a memorable highlight of the visit, offering a unique perspective of Nepal’s geography and tourism appeal.
Tourism Diplomacy as a Strategic Tool
Tourism officials believe that combining diplomacy with destination promotion can yield long-term benefits by encouraging regional travel circuits, joint marketing initiatives, and knowledge exchange in sustainable tourism practices.
NTB plans to continue similar engagements in the future to deepen international collaboration and further establish Nepal as a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide.
