Remarks by Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari

at ‘Nepal-Bangladesh Tourism Meet’

Jointly Organized under the Theme

‘Neighbourly Nepal: Land of Lifetime Experiences’ by

Embassy of Nepal and Nepal Tourism Board

(Dhaka, Bangladesh, 20 June 2025)

Officiating Director of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Rohini Prasad Khanal

Joint Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation

Mr. Mr. AKM Moniruzzaman

General Manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Deputy Director of Bangladesh Tourism Board

Presidents of ATAB, TOAB,                   

Visiting Delegation from Nepal

Hospitality, Travel and Tour Entrepreneurs from Bangladesh,        

Distinguished Guests, and

Friends from Media

Namaste, As-salamu Alaykum, and Shuvo Sondhya!

I would like to thank you all for your presence.

At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude to Nepal Tourism Board for joining hands with the Embassy in organizing this event.

As many of you know, the Embassy organizes such promotional events at regular intervals. This is our yet another effort to connect travel, tourism, and hospitality leaders from Nepal and Bangladesh.

The theme of today’s event — ‘Neighbourly Nepal: Land of Lifetime Experiences’ — resonates with Nepal’s national tourism brand, that is, ‘Lifetime Experiences’. It also captures the spirit of neighbourliness that so strongly defines the enduring ties between Nepal and Bangladesh.

Its objective is to strengthen your connections, deepen B2B ties and help your businesses grow, and ultimately enhance the people-to-people contacts between our two countries.

Dear Friends,

Nepal’s natural and cultural beauty speaks for itself. Home to eight of the world’s ten tallest peaks— including the majestic Mount Everest — we are a living museum of diverse cultures, languages, and landscapes.  

Nepal promises nothing less than the lifetime experiences, with the roaring Himalayan rivers, serene lakes, lush valleys, diverse plains, pristine national parks, and rich cultural and archaeological heritage.

From adventures like trekking, mountaineering, paragliding, and bungee jumping, to spiritual retreats, wellness and medical tourism, and pilgrimage trails —we have something special for every traveler.

In Nepal, every valley, hill, and mountain tell a story. From tranquil lowlands to awe-inspiring mountains, every path leads to a new adventure.

And yet, I always believe what touches visitors the most is our people. We live by the saying ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ — meaning our guests are like gods.

In recent years, Nepal’s tourism infrastructure has taken a major leap forward. We now have three international airports — in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Bhairahawa — making access easier than ever before.

Global hotel chains like Crowne Plaza, Taj, Hyatt, Radisson, Dusit Thani, Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton and others are expanding their footprint across the country.

Today, Nepal boasts over 1,300 star and tourist-standard hotels with a combined capacity of more than 50,000 beds per day.

The country also has nearly 3,800 registered travel agencies and around 2,800 trekking companies — serving travelers with professionalism and local insight.

Looking ahead, the Government of Nepal has introduced the Visit Nepal Decade 2023–2032 with a target to welcome 3.5 million tourists annually and generate 1 million additional jobs in the tourism sector.

Distinguished Guests, and

Ladies and Gentlemen

As close neighbours, proximity between Nepal and Bangladesh is not just geographical — it is emotional, cultural, and deeply spiritual.

And, these close bonds are further nurtured by tourism and people-to-people contacts.

Tourism between our two countries is more than travel. It is a celebration of shared heritage and friendship.

Visiting each other feels less like crossing a border and more like visiting a familiar friend. It is a reflection of the deep similarities we share in language, culture, cuisine and lifestyle.

I am pleased to learn that many Bangladeshi people continue to consider Nepal as one of their preferred tourist destinations. 

Close to 50 thousand Bangladeshi tourists visited Nepal in 2024. The momentum in 2025 is even more promising.

We invite our Bangladeshi friends to discover the many dimensions of Nepal, whether:

• To simply immerse themselves in peace and purity of the natural world,
• To experience the cultural beauty and diversity, or
• To enjoy the warm hospitality and rich traditions of our people.

We believe that tourism is not just a source of economic growth, but a bridge of friendship — one that brings our peoples closer in spirit and purpose.

We must strive further to ensure that families from Dhaka spend their holidays in Kathmandu, Pokhara or Chitwan, and Nepali travelers explore the Sundarbans, the Cox’s Bazaar, or the historical sites of Dhaka and Sylhet.

Together, we must translate this vision into a win-win enterprise.

It is exactly with this purpose in mind, a joint team of over 14 people, including the representatives of Nepal Tourism Board and leaders from Nepali travel, tourism and hospitality sector is here with you today.

I am confident that the B2B sessions held prior to this formal ceremony were useful to facilitate some meaningful interactions. Let us now take steps towards deeper partnership — expand business linkages, create memorable experiences, and nurture mutual understanding.

In closing, I welcome you all to explore, experience, and enjoy your ‘neighbourly Nepal’.

A flight from Dhaka to Kathmandu takes less than an hour, but the experiences you gather in Nepal will last a lifetime.

Nepal invites you not just to visit, but to feel, to connect, and to return home with stories that stay forever.

Thank you all for your attention.

প্রিয় সুধী মন্ডলী,

নেপাল-বাংলাদেশ পর্যটন সম্পর্ক নিয়ে আরও একবার আপনাদের সামনে কথা বলতে পেরে আমি অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত।

আমরা সকলে জানি, ভ্রমন ও পর্যটন খাতে আমাদের দ্বিপাক্ষিক সহযোগিতা বৃদ্ধির অনেক সম্ভবনা রয়েছে।

আপনাদের মতো পর্যটন উদ্যোক্তরা এই লক্ষ্য পূরণে গুরুত্বপূর্ন ভূমিকা পালন করতে পারে।

আমাদের উদ্দেশ্য হলো আপনাদের ব্যবসা বৃদ্ধিতে সহায়তা করা যাতে আমাদের দুই দেশের মধ্যে সম্পর্কের সমৃদ্ধি হয়।

দূতাবাসের আবশ্যক সমর্থন এবং সহযোগিতা সবসময় উম্মুক্ত।

আপনাদের সকলকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ।

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