The Nepal Tourism Board participated in the 5th World Tourism Industry Conference (WTIC 2026), held in Seoul and Suwon, Republic of Korea, from June 4 to 6, 2026, alongside the 41st Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF 2026). The international tourism events were organized by the International Tourism Forum (TITF) and brought together tourism professionals, policymakers, destination marketers, and industry experts from around the world to discuss emerging trends and future opportunities in global tourism.
WTIC 2026 Focuses on Long-Stay Tourism
This year’s WTIC 2026 was organized under the theme “Living-in-Travel: Long-Stay Tourism as a New Business Frontier, From Visitors to Temporary Residents.” The conference focused on the growing global trend of long-stay tourism, where travelers increasingly seek extended stays and immersive experiences rather than short-term visits. Participants at the conference discussed evolving traveler behavior, sustainable destination management, emerging tourism challenges, and innovative strategies for attracting long-stay visitors.
Nepal Showcases Tourism Opportunities
Representing the Nepal Tourism Board at the conference, Mr. Sunil Sharma, Officiating Director of NTB, delivered a presentation highlighting Nepal’s tourism potential in relation to the rapidly growing global trend of long-stay travel. During his presentation, Sharma emphasized Nepal’s unique strengths, including its natural beauty, cultural diversity, spiritual tourism, adventure tourism opportunities, and hospitality sector, which position the country as an attractive destination for extended stays and experiential travel. He also highlighted Nepal’s relevance in emerging global travel trends and discussed opportunities for sustainable tourism growth through long-term visitor engagement.
Platform for Global Tourism Dialogue
WTIC 2026 provided a high-level platform for international tourism stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore collaborative approaches for sustainable destination development. The conference examined long-stay tourism programs, policy frameworks, tourism innovation, and strategies for balancing tourism growth with environmental and cultural sustainability.
Industry experts at the event noted that long-stay tourism is increasingly becoming a significant segment of the global tourism economy, particularly as travelers seek deeper cultural experiences, flexible work-travel lifestyles, and wellness-oriented destinations.
SITF 2026 Brings Together Global Tourism Stakeholders
The conference was held in conjunction with the 41st Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF 2026), one of Asia’s major tourism exhibitions. The event attracted tourism organizations, travel companies, airlines, and destination representatives from numerous countries, creating opportunities for international networking, destination promotion, and tourism business engagement. Nepal’s participation at the event was aimed at strengthening its visibility in the Korean and broader Asian tourism markets while promoting the country as a diverse and sustainable travel destination.
Strengthening Nepal’s International Tourism Presence
Officials stated that participation in international tourism forums such as WTIC and SITF helps Nepal engage with evolving global tourism trends and build stronger international partnerships. The Nepal Tourism Board emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainable tourism development in positioning Nepal competitively within the global tourism industry. The event also provided opportunities to explore future partnerships and promotional strategies targeting international travelers interested in long-stay, cultural, spiritual, and nature-based tourism experiences.
Focus on Sustainable Destination Development
Since 2022, the International Tourism Forum (TITF) has been organizing successive editions of WTIC around different tourism themes reflecting evolving global tourism perspectives. According to organizers, WTIC 2026 aimed to encourage dialogue on sustainable tourism practices while identifying new business frontiers emerging from changing travel patterns.
Nepal Tourism Board officials expressed confidence that Nepal’s participation in such international events will contribute to enhancing the country’s tourism brand, expanding market outreach, and promoting sustainable tourism development in the years ahead.
