June 5: The fourth edition of the Himalayan Travel Mart is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu from June 6 to 9. The event, which aims to promote Nepal's tourism industry, is being organised by the Nepal chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Nepal Tourism Board, the Nepal Airlines Corporation, among others.    
According to PATA Nepal Chapter’s Chief Executive Officer Suresh Singh Badal, preparations have been completed for the Nepal’s premier international travel and tourism trade show. It will be attended by over 400 representatives from 25 nations.    
“Its business session will be attended by 50 buyers from around the globe and 50 sellers/exhibitors with diverse tourism products,” said Badal 
Special sessions will be held focused on the post-COVID-19 tourism recovery campaign and the operations of the Gautam Buddha and Pokhara international airports efficiently.    
Experts from the related field will be invited for their opinions on the ways for operating the two newly launched international airports in an effective way. A plenary session on 'Unlocking the potentials of Nepal's new international airports: strategies for market linkage, marketing, branding and more to drive tourism growth' has been scheduled during the Mart.    
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will inaugurate the event on June 6. The travel mart is being organized on the theme of 're-connecting, rebuilding and reinvigorating'. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, will also attend the event.    
The event was held annually from 2017-19 and it was halted since 2019 due to COVID -19 pandemic. The objective of the mart is to develop Nepal as a gateway to the Himalaya and a hub of adventure tourism. -- RSS