MPN picks ambassador, star promoters for 1st Pink Tourism International Conference

KATHMANDU: Mayako Pahichan Nepal (MPN), a champion for matrimonial and legal rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, has recently appointed renowned fashion designer, Rehan Shrestha, as the ambassador for the first Pink Tourism International Conference in Nepal.

Before this, Shrestha had the honour of being the ambassador for Visit Nepal 2020.

In a similar vein, Parakram Rana and Mausam Bohra have been selected as star promoters for the conference, which is being organised in partnership with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

MPN announced the appointment of ambassador and star promoters in a press meet at NTB on Friday. 

Themed 'Yatra to Happiness', the event is designed to position Nepal as a welcoming tourist destination for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Bohra, a successful female entrepreneur, will play a pivotal role in promoting pink tourism within the private sector. Rana, a content creator and blogger, expressed his belief that Nepal is a hospitable country for sexual and gender minorities. "Nepal is a safe haven," he declared, "I extend a warm invitation to you to visit Nepal." MPN has also announced blogger Lex Limbu as another star promoter for the International Conference.

Sunil Babu Pant, MPN’s Executive Director, shared that the international conference, scheduled for April 20 and 21, 2024, will significantly contribute to the promotion of Nepal's tourism. Pant, who has been appointed Cultural Emissary (Ambassador), is tasked with promoting international pink tourism by the tourism board. He stated, “Attracting tourists to Nepal through pink tourism will undoubtedly improve Nepal's GDP.”

Maniraj Lamichhane, Director of NTB, affirmed that Nepal has gained international recognition as a friendly nation in South Asia for sexual and gender minority communities. He proclaimed, "Nepal is a destination for everyone."

The conference will feature keynote speakers such as Devdutt Pattanaik, author of over 100 books and a renowned Mythologist, and Paromita Vohra, the Founder of 'Agents of Ishq'. 

Pant, Executive Director of MPN, stated that the conference aims to support the livelihood of the communities in the country through the tourism industry by attracting sexual and gender minority tourists from around the globe.

Meanwhile, online registration for participation in the first Pink Tourism International Conference is now open. According to MPN, interested individuals can complete the online form and submit it on their website.

MPN has confirmed that they have received applications from various countries in South Asia, and countries including the USA and the UK to participate in the conference.

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