KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) is organizing a week-long Nepal Sales Mission to Colombo of Sri Lanka and Bangalore of India from December 14 to 21.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) are the other partners of the tourism promotional event, according to Ram Barakoti, program coordinator of the sales mission.
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“Like past years, we are organizing tourism promotional events in the international market this year as well,” Barakoti said, adding: “As India and Sri Lanka are the first and fourth largest tourist generating market for Nepal, respectively, we are hopeful that visitors from these countries will increase further after this event.”
According to Barakoti, Nepali tourism entrepreneurs will participate in day-long B2B sessions in both the destinations.
“The main purpose of most of the Sri Lankan tourists visiting Nepal is to visit Lumbini -- the birthplace of the Buddha. But most of them are starting Buddhist pilgrimage for India,” Barakoti, said, adding: “We will encourage them to start the pilgrimage from Kathmandu.”
He also said participating tour operators and tourism service providers will also promote Nepal's other tourism attractions among Sri Lankan tour operators.
“As NAC is operating direct flights to Bangalore, we are hopeful that the number of tourists coming from Bangalore will increase as participating delegates will promote Nepal's tourism attractions among local tour operators,” Barakoti added.
NATTA is planning to promote Nepal as a country with religious, historical and natural attractions among Sri Lankan and Indian tourists, according to Barakoti.
