Kathmandu, May 23
Minister for Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has said that the government is
committed to making Nepal a centre for Buddhist culture heritage and an
attractive destination of spiritual tourists.
He made this remark
while inaugurating the Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) 2025 on
Friday.
The BITM organised
with the aim of establishing Nepal as a world centre for Buddhism, spirituality
and peace tourism will continue till May 25
The BITM is an annual
event organised by the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents
(NATTA).
"The time has
come to spread the message of peace that began in Lumbini, the birthplace of
Buddha, from Nepal to the world again," Minister Pandey said.
He said that Lumbini
will be developed as an 'International City of Peace' and the government is
committed to this.
Similarly, priority
has been given to Buddhist tourism in Lumbini, focusing on major circuits
including Kapilvastu, Ramgram, Devdaha, and Tilaurakot.
Minister Pandey said
that work was underway to establish regular flights to Gautam Buddha
International Airport and increase easier access to the road network to promote
Buddhist tourism.
He said,
"Referring to the latest dialogue with the UNESCO representative, we have
urged them not place Lumbini on the list of dangerous sites. In addition, the
government is taking initiatives to include Tilaurakot in the UNESCO potential
list."
He urged those wishing
for world peace to visit Nepal, as the country is on a journey towards a new
era of peace and prosperity.
On the occasion,
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal, urged stakeholders to promote Nepal as a premier
Buddhist tourism hub.
He emphasised the
importance of leveraging Nepal’s rich Buddhist heritage, including the
birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini, and other sacred sites like Tilaurakot, Ramgram,
Bouddha and Swoyambhu.
“This mart will be
instrumental in promoting Nepali Buddhist tourist destinations at an
international level and extend the stay of tourists in Lumbini,” Dhakal said.
He highlighted the
potential of service and trade exchanges between international buyers and
national sellers in the tourism sector.
Dhakal also urged for
the further development of BITM, which began in 2019 under the leadership of
the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), as a strong brand to
establish Nepal as a key destination for Buddhist tourism.
He underscored the
need to build a Buddhist Circuit connecting Nepal’s sites with pilgrimage
locations in India to attract the large Buddhist populations in neighbouring
countries.
“If we can encourage
Buddhists worldwide to visit Lumbini at least once, it could transform Nepal’s
tourism landscape,” he added.
Highlighting
infrastructure challenges, he called for the effective operation of Gautam
Buddha International Airport, which has faced operational delays despite
significant investment.
He also raised
concerns over connectivity issues and high airfare costs, exacerbated by
government-imposed VAT on tickets.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 May 2025.
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