The 3rd Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM 2019) concluded on July 9 at Soaltee Crowne Plaza attracting more than 700 delegates from 43 different countries; including 150+ international delegates and national stakeholders. The four-day event is the biggest and Nepal’s premier international travel and tourism trade show organised and executed by PATA Nepal Chapter in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, PATA Headquarter, Nepal Airlines and the other prominent tourism organisations of Nepal.
The HTM 2019 was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli on June 6. Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the PM emphasised on the immense tourism potential of the country.
PATA Nepal Chapter felicitated late Hon. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari for his dedication and relentless efforts in the development of tourism in Nepal. Doug Scott, a well renowned British mountaineer, was also rewarded in recognition of his lifetime efforts and contribution in the field of mountaineering and tourism in Nepal.
HTM2019 Conference was held on June 7 under the theme “The Spirit of the Himalayas” unveiling a new way forward, new programs, products and uncovering hidden treasures with new potentials for the Himalayan nations with Nepal at the helm of this promotional endeavour. The delegates witnessed about 20+ world class high-value speakers, industry thought leaders, spiritual leaders, mystics, religious gurus, influencers and international tourism experts who shared unparalleled insights on the various subjects including spiritual tourism, adventure travel trends, responsible and sustainable tourism, digital transformation and new trends in tourism, travel media trends, contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities for the development of tourism for Nepal as well as the Himalayan nations.
The International Travel Bloggers and Media Conference (ITBMC), an event alongside HTM brought together 40+ international travel bloggers and media as well as hundreds of local media delegates to promote Nepal as the most promising and happening tourism destination. The speakers during ITBMC put emphasis on the role of travel media and bloggers for tourism promotion of a destination and inspired the bloggers/media for creating contents and sharing their experiences about Nepal.
A special International Media Briefing for Visit Nepal Year 2020 was organised during ITBMC showcasing the country’s offerings and plans for the mega campaign. Suraj Vaidya, the National Program Coordinator for VNY2020 made the presentation alongside Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi and PATA Nepal Chairman Sunil Sakya.
This year, the two-day B2B HTM held on June 8-9 witnessed the participation of 58 buyer organisations from 30 different countries, 54 seller organisations or exhibitors from six different countries. PATA Nepal Chapter also announced organizing the fourth edition of the Himalayan Travel Mart to be held from June 12-15 in 2020.
