Nepal and India recently came together to host the first-ever Nepal-India Tourism Meet in Kathmandu, marking a significant step in bolstering cross-border tourism ties.
The event aimed to promote Maha Kumbh 2025, one of India’s most significant religious gatherings, while also fostering closer collaboration in the tourism sector between the two nations.
The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu jointly organised the meet on December 12. The gathering provided a platform to discuss and promote circuit tourism and create business-to-business (B2B) connections, emphasising the cultural and religious links between the two neighbours.
According to the Indian Embassy’s press release, the focus was on promoting Maha Kumbh, set to take place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, from January 13 to February 26, 2025.
Minister of State for Tourism Arun Kumar Chaudhary served as the Chief Guest at the event. He highlighted the importance of cross-border tourism, particularly through land routes, which contribute significantly to Nepal’s tourism sector despite not being adequately reflected in formal statistics.
The Minister further encouraged both sides to enhance cross-border connectivity, particularly in remote areas such as Nepal’s Sudurpashchim province, to unlock untapped tourism potential.
Prasanna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, stressed the need for joint initiatives to fully harness the tourism opportunities between the two countries.
He underscored the potential of religious and cultural tourism circuits connecting Nepal with neighbouring Indian states, emphasising their shared heritage and cultural bonds.
Deepak Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, expressed his gratitude for India’s role as the largest source of foreign tourists to Nepal.
He also highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the NTB to strengthen tourism ties with India, such as promotional activities and collaborations aimed at enhancing bilateral tourism exchanges.
As part of the programme, the NTB organised a familiarisation trip for delegates and tour operators from Uttar Pradesh. The trip, held from December 8 to 9, included visits to Janakpur city and Kathmandu, providing participants with firsthand experiences of Nepal’s rich cultural and religious heritage.
The event also served as a platform to explore new opportunities for circuit tourism, a concept aimed at creating travel routes that connect significant religious and cultural destinations across borders.
Both nations are looking to capitalise on their shared history and close proximity to offer tourists an enriched experience that blends cultural, spiritual, and natural attractions.
Maha Kumbh, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, draws millions of devotees from across the globe to the sacred confluence of rivers in Prayagraj.
The tourism meet sought to tap into this massive event to enhance cultural and religious tourism between India and Nepal. The collaboration also aims to ensure that visitors to Maha Kumbh have the opportunity to explore Nepal’s spiritual landmarks, thereby creating a seamless tourism experience across both countries.
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