May 12: The Second International Travel Mart 2023 kicked off in Lumbini on Thursday.    
The three-day travel mart is being organized by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travels with the objective of bringing in tourists to Lumbini.    
Vice Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust Monk Maittaye (Abadesh Kumar Tripathi) inaugurated the travel mart.    
On the occasion, the trust's Vice Chairman Maittaye said that the Buddhist followers should begin their journey from Lumbini itself. He said that Lumbini is a vital site for promoting inspiration, peace and goodwill.    
Likewise, Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism Development Suresh Adhikari stated that the Travel Mart was orgnaised to make the country's tourism industry more vibrant.    
Likewise, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dhan Bahadur Oli, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjaya Regmi and Chairman of Hotel Association of Nepal Binayak Shah addressed the event.    
Twenty eight travel and tour companies from India, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries are attending the travel mart. -- RSS