June 11: The 4th Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) concluded on Saturday with the formulation of a strategic plan for revitalisation, promotion and sustainable development of tourism in the post COVID-19 era.    
The travel mart hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and organised by the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Nepal Chapter in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and other tourism organisations was attended by more than 700 representatives from 25 countries. The four-day event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on June 6. In his address during the inaugural session, PM Dahal said the travel mart has been a main forum for the promotion of tourism of the Himalayan Region including Nepal.    
He also expressed the hope that the travel mart would play an important role in the promotion of Nepal’s tourism while identifying the country as an entry point to the Himalayas.    
Tourism Secretary Suresh Adhikari said the conference offered an opportunity to establish contact with travel entrepreneurs from across the globe while exploring the potential of Nepal’s tourism industry.    
Similarly, executive chief of the NTB Dr Dhananjaya Regmi and executive chair of the NAC Yubaraj Adhikari expressed the hope that the event would help promote the country’s tourism.    
PATA Nepal Chapter President Bibhuti Chand Thakur said the travel mart had become effective in exploring new opportunities for the exchange of networks and trade, and promoting destinations for the sustainable development of tourism.    
The event held under the theme of ‘Reconnecting, Rebuilding and Reinvigorating’, witnessed participation of national and international speakers who discussed the potential of the aviation sector, and new international airports of Nepal. Issues ranging from the revival of Chinese tourists to the trend of European tourists, opportunities and sustainable development of tourism for Nepal, promotion of the possibility of regional tourism, climate change, sustainable tourism, adventure tourism and new practice in education were also discussed. The B2B Mart brought together 50 buyer organisations from the US, Europe, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States, Asia and the UAE, and seller organisations from Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, according to a statement issued by the PATA Nepal Chapter.    
On the occasion, the ministry’s secretary Adhikari announced that the 5th HTM would be organised in Kathmandu on June-4-7, 2024 jointly by the PATA Nepal Chapter and the NTB.    -- RSS