NTB makes Visit Nepal 2020 pitch in Kolkata

Nepal Tourism Board, along with 11 private tourism companies from Kathmandu and the eastern region, participated at the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) in Kolkata, India to promote Nepal.

During the fair, the Nepali delegation informed Indian visitors about the government’s Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign and discussed about joint partnership on promoting the Ramayana Circuit comprising the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The three-day fair was inaugurated by Bangladeshi Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Shajahan Kamal on Friday.

Mani Raj Lamichhane, director of NTB, proposed developing joint promotional collaterals of the circuit and taking it to the prospective pilgrims, researchers and potential travellers.

Jayanta Bhattacharya, Air India assistant general manager, picked up the issue of high fares on the Kolkata–Kathmandu route. Considering the interest of the locals of Kolkata and the visit Nepal campaign, Bhattacharya said they may consider slashing the fares on the route and also explore opportunities to operate the daily flights in the sector if the demands grow. Currently, Air India is operating four flights a week in this sector.

NTB’s Lamichhane also met with Cyril V Diengdoh, director of Tourism, Meghalaya and discussed about tourism and cultural exchanges between Meghalaya and Nepal.

The two also discussed issues on joint promotion of religious sites of Meghalaya and Nepal, exchange of ideas, tools and techniques in terms of tourism promotion.

TTF Kolkata is India’s oldest and one of the busiest travel trade shows in India. With the increasing importance of outbound and inbound potential in the East and Southwest Asia, it serves as a strategically important gateway for the industry.

Since 1989, it provides an annual marketing platform and the opportunity to network with the travel trade in major cities.

This year’s TTF Kolkata 2018 witnessed the participation of more than 430 exhibitors from 28 Indian states and 13 countries at Netaji Indoor Stadium and Khudiram Anushilan Kendra. Due to its proximity, eastern Nepal can reap benefits if this region is connected well with West Bengal.