NTB Interaction with West Bengal Tourism Entrepreneurs

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) interacted with tourism entrepreneurs from West Bengal to promote Nepal's tourism in the Indian border region (cross-border tourism). During the interaction, both entrepreneurs and NTB officials highlighted that promoting cross-border tourism could benefit both countries.

On Wednesday, the Board organized an interaction with officials from the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA) located in Siliguri, who came to Nepal for the promotion of the 8th Bengal Travel Mart (BTM-2024) and interaction with Nepali entrepreneurs. The 8th Bengal Travel Mart (BTM-2024) will be held in Siliguri from September 14 to 15 under the organization of EHTTOA.

On the occasion, NTB Manager Surya Thapaliya said that the number of tourists visiting eastern Nepal from West Bengal, particularly Darjeeling, Sikkim, and other areas, and vice versa, is increasing. He emphasized that further promotion and facilitation could benefit both countries from third-country tourists.

Another NTB Manager, Suman Ghimire, informed the audience that Nepal is also emphasizing cross-border tourism and has organized various marts in the Nepal-India border region. He stressed the need to continue discussions, interactions, and collaboration.

Debasish Maitra, President of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA), mentioned the high potential for cross-border tourism and stressed the importance of immigration facilities in the border areas of both countries to benefit from third-country tourists. Similarly, Sandipan Ghosh, General Secretary of EHTTA, said that Nepal's participation in the upcoming Bengal Travel Mart (BTM-2024) in Siliguri would help promote Nepal's tourism.

Dr. Dawa Sherpa, Adventure Tourism Coordinator at EHTTOA, informed that the team will be visiting tourist destinations around Kathmandu, including Chandragiri, Nagarkot, Pokhara, and Chitwan, and interact with entrepreneurs in those locations before returning. Last year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between tourism entrepreneurs from Nepal and India in Jhapa with the aim of jointly promoting tourist destinations in Nepal's Koshi Province and West Bengal, India. Following this, a team of Indian tourism entrepreneurs has come to Nepal at the NTB's initiative.