Kathmandu, Dec 19 (NationPress) Representatives from Nepal and India, along with various stakeholders, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance cross-border tourism during the Second India–Nepal Tourism Meet held in the beautiful city of Pokhara, as reported by the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, in partnership with the Nepal Tourism Board and the Pokhara Tourism Council, organized this event aiming to boost tourism between Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, particularly focusing on the western Gandaki Province, where Pokhara is situated.

Rakesh Pandey, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy, spoke at the event about the advancements in connectivity that are driving cross-border tourism forward. He underscored the necessity for both nations to work together to fully utilize the potential of India–Nepal tourism, especially by promoting religious and cultural circuits that include destinations in Nepal and adjoining Indian states.

Both nations have already committed to jointly promoting the Ramayana and Buddhist tourist circuits. An agreement has been established between the two governments to create the Indo-Nepal Tourism Forum, which will include representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Surendra Raj Pandey, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, expressed his support for the increasing tourism collaboration with India, particularly in Pokhara and Muktinath.

Dinesh Kumar, Joint Director of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, presented on tourism circuits in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the upcoming Magh Mela and shared successful practices in tourism policy implementation.

Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, pointed out that India is the primary source of foreign tourists to Nepal and mentioned various initiatives taken by the Board to enhance India–Nepal tourism cooperation.

The Embassy noted that the Business-to-Business (B2B) segment of the meet attracted around 10 delegates from India and 60 from Nepal, where tour operators from both nations discussed potential collaborations in Buddhist circuits, wildlife tourism, and adventure tourism.

The discussions also centered on promoting cross-border tourism through land routes, wildlife tourism, and opportunities in adventure and spiritual tourism.

To further this initiative, the Board, along with the Pokhara Tourism Council, organized a familiarization tour for a delegation from Uttar Pradesh from December 15 to 17.

The Board expressed optimism that this visit would facilitate practical tourism cooperation by enabling firsthand experiences of Pokhara and its surrounding attractions,” the statement concluded.