Nepal Government, Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation has announced the Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) in January 2019. The event is going to be held on 10-12 Jan 2019 at Lumbini and Bhairahawa in Nepal. Mr. Krishna Prasad Devkota, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is the chair of the main organizing committee, Nepal Tourism Board is organizing partner and NATTA become the implementing organization together with all tourism-related pioneer organizations.
In this connection, NATTA Vice President & Convener of BITM Mr. Achyut Guragain, Secretary General Mr. Ramesh Thapa and Executive Director, BITM Mr. Vinaya Shakya, had visited the Embassies in Kathmandu. Convener Mr. Guragain briefed their Excellency regarding the upcoming BITM 2019. Mr. Guragain mentioned that Buddhist Travel Mart is first of its kind in International Travel Mart in Tourism market. This event will be the platform to meet buyers and sellers. It is a place to exchange business ideas and transaction for the Buddhist and spiritual tourism. It will help to promote Lumbini as the gateway to Buddhist Circuits. Their Excellency was happy to support the upcoming event and wishes for the success of the event.
The team had a meeting with His Excellency MR. BHAKAVAT TANSKUl, Ambassador, of Royal Thai Embassy on 09 Oct 2018. The Thai ambassador suggested the team to disseminate the information on Lumbini and the Buddhist pilgrimage spots as more as possible.
During the meeting with Her Excellency MS. SWARNA PERERA, Ambassador of Sri Lanka on 11 Oct 2018, Her Excellency was excited to exchange the tour operators of Sri Lanka and Nepal for tourism promotion of both countries.
While meeting with His Excellency DR. MAZHAR JAVED, Ambassador of Pakistan on 23 Oct 2018, Pakistan is eager to promote Buddhist archaeological sites to the Buddhist travel world. The ambassador likes to encourage Buddhist pilgrimage to travel Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani traveller needs to be educated regarding spiritual travel in Nepal.
His Excellency Mr. PARK YOUNG-SIK, Ambassador of Republic of Korea on 24 Oct 2018 mentioned that Korea is interested to be a part of the event. The ambassador stated that Nepal needs to increase the frequency of flight to get more tourist from Korea.
Mr. Kapidhwaja Pratap Singh, Second Secretary (Commerce), Embassy of India on 25 Oct 2018 stated that India is interested to promote Buddhist Circuits in a massive way. As most of the Buddhist pilgrimage centres are situated in India,
His Excellency Thiri Pyachi U Tun Nay Lin, Ambassador of Myanmar on 31 Oct 2018, mentioned that all Buddhist should visit Lumbini First and then to other pilgrimage sites in Nepal and India.
His Excellency Mr. Pertti Anttinen, Ambassador of Finland on 01 Nov 2018 was happy to know about the niche product of spiritual tourism in Nepal. He suggests the team to develop spiritual tourism product like meditation and yoga in Lumbini.
