NTB interacts with West Bengal tourism entrepreneurs

KATHMANDU, March 23:The Nepal tourist Board (NTB) has interacted with tourism businesses in West Bengal to promote Nepal's tourism in the Indian border region (cross-border tourism).

According to entrepreneurs and NTB officials, both countries can benefit from this if the emphasis is placed on promoting cross-border tourism in the interaction.

On Wednesday, an interaction was organized on the board with the officials of Siliguri-based Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators’ Association (EHTTOA), 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 place in Siliguri from September 14 to 15, organized by the EHTTOA.

On the occasion, NTB Manager Surya Thapaliya stated that both countries would benefit from third-country tourists if more publicity and facilitation were provided regarding the growing number of tourists visiting Eastern Nepal from West Bengal, particularly Darjeeling, Sikkim, and other areas.

Another board manager, Suman Ghimire, stated that numerous marts are being organized along the Nepal-India border, with an emphasis on cross-border tourism in Nepal.

Debasish Maitra, President of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association (EHTTOA), stated that there is a high potential for cross-border tourism and emphasized the importance of immigration facilities in border areas between the two countries to attract tourists from third countries.

Sandeepan Ghosh, General Secretary of EHTTOA, expressed his view that Nepal's participation in the Bengal Travel Mart (BTM-2024), which will be hosted in Siliguri, will help to promote tourism in Nepal.

Dr. Dawa Sherpa, Adventure Tourism Coordinator of EHTTOA, stated that the team will visit tourism spots near Kathmandu, including as Chandragiri, Nagarkot, Pokhara, and Chitwan, and meet with businesspeople there before returning. Last year, tourism entrepreneurs from Nepal and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Jhapa with the goal of collaboratively promoting tourist spots in Nepal's Koshi Province and West Bengal, India. Following that, an NTB-sponsored delegation of Indian tourism entrepreneurs visited Nepal.