Remarks by Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari as a Special Guest
at ‘Mujib’s Bangladesh Tourism Promotion and B2B Exchange 2023’
Dhaka, 27 May 2023
Hon. State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism
Esteemed Secretary for Civil Aviation and Tourism
Ambassadors and High Commissioners
Distinguished delegates from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan
Travel and Tour Entrepreneurs from Bangladesh and Abroad,
Friends from Media, and
Ladies and Gentlemen
Namaste, As-salamu Alaykum, and Shuvo Sondhya!
I would like to thank the organizers for inviting me to participate in this Mujib’s Bangladesh Tourism Promotion and B2B Exchange Programme.
I feel honoured to speak a few words at this event.
At the outset, I commend the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and Bangladesh Tourism Board of the Government of Bangladesh for this initiative and for so many other innovative campaigns and programmes that it has undertaken in the field of tourism.
Excellencies, and Dear Friends
The relationship between Nepal and Bangladesh is built on the close civilizational, cultural, and linguistic linkages.
This relationship has evolved as naturally and organically as the link between the Himalayas – the water towers – and the Bay of Bengal – the water reservoir.
It is as natural as the ever-flowing rivers between them.
Tourism and people-to-people exchanges have been a strong connecting thread between our two countries.
I am happy to note that Nepal remains one of the popular destinations for Bangladeshi travelers. Over 25,000 Bangladeshi tourists visited Nepal in 2022, which is close to the pre-pandemic level.
I also take this opportunity to underline that, in Nepal, we have been branding tourism under the motto of ‘Lifetime Experiences’. Nepal offers travel experiences ranging from adventure activities such as trekking, mountaineering, paragliding, and bungee jumping, to medical tourism to spiritual tourism to pilgrimage.
And most important and the greatest attraction of Nepal are our people with their widest smile.
From remote mountain villages to medieval hill-towns and plains, and the ancient cities of Kathmandu Valley, you will see our welcoming people who believe in ‘atithi devo bhava’, meaning guests are like gods.
This is just an impression of our tourism potential coming from a non-expert like me.
We have before us a joint team of 11 colleagues, including the representatives of Nepal Tourism Board and Nepali travel and tour entrepreneurs. I am confident that they will be better equipped to share with you where Nepal stands and what it can offer.
Dear Friends,
We cannot overemphasize the importance of the tourism industry in South Asia.
It can play a crucial role in fulfilling the development aspirations of our peoples by driving growth, by reducing poverty, and by fostering development.
There are ample opportunities for domestic and foreign investors to invest in travel, hospitality, and connectivity sectors.
The need for us is to build partnerships and work together for mutual benefit.
The need is to connect our peoples, societies, and cultures.
We must build linkages between the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal, between hills and plains, and between markets and minds.
We must connect our religious and archaeological sites, and eco-tourism and adventure destinations through tourism circuits.
We must promote innovation, ignite entrepreneurship, and build stronger bonds between the peoples and business communities.
The role of private sector is crucial in this regard. I am pleased to note that today we have with us a good number of private sector representatives from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
Occasions like this foster B2B interactions and build business networks. I encourage you all to listen to each other and strengthen the foundation for future partnership.
To conclude, the COVID-19 pandemic may have taught us to meet virtually and compelled us to moderate our expectations and exercise caution when it came to tourism and travel.
Now, with the subsidence of the pandemic, people have begun to move out of their houses and surroundings.
We have before us brighter prospects for tourism and people-to-people contacts.
Let’s realize this and work together.
Let’s make tourism the centerpiece of our excellent bilateral relations.
I thank you all for your attention.
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