Remarks by Ambassador Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari as the Special Guest at the Inauguration Ceremony of the 12th Asia Tourism Fair 2025
Dhaka, 18 September 2025
Chairman of the Asian Tourism Fair Dhaka Mr. Mohiuddin Helal,
Esteemed Secretary Madame Nasreen Jahan
Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Distinguished Guests,
Friends from Media, and
Ladies and Gentlemen
Namaste, As-salamu Alaykum, and Good Afternoon!
বারোতম এশিয়া পর্যটন মেলার উদ্বোধনী অধিবেশনে অংশগ্রহণ করতে পেরে আমি অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত।
এই সুযোগের জন্য হেলাল ভাই এবং আয়োজকদের অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ।
পর্যটন নিয়ে কথা না বললে নেপাল-বাংলাদেশ সম্পর্কের কথা অসম্পূর্ন থেকে যাবে।
পর্যটন এবং জনগণের মাঝে যোগাযোগ দীর্ঘদিন ধরে আমাদের বন্ধুত্বের ভিত্তি।
নেপাল পর্যটন বোর্ডের নেতৃত্বে এখানে আমাদের সাথে ভ্রমণ এবং পর্যটন উদ্যোক্তাদের একটি প্রতিনিধি দল রয়েছে।
আমি নিশ্চিত যে তাদের অংশগ্রহণ আমাদের বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ সম্পর্ককে আরোও সুদৃঢ় করবে।
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cultural ties and people-to-people connections have long been the bedrock of Nepal-Bangladesh friendship.
These bonds are deeply rooted in our history and shared values, and have been consolidated through centuries of continuous exchange.
Needless to say, Nepal and Bangladesh share much in common—from food, art, and culture to language and heritage. Tourism and people-to-people exchanges have played a vital role in bringing our two countries further close.
I am pleased to note that Nepal continues to remain a popular destination for Bangladeshi travelers. In 2024, close to 50 thousand Bangladeshi tourists visited Nepal. Current trends indicate that the number will continue to grow.
True to our tourism motto, that is “Lifetime Experiences”, Nepal offers visitors an unforgettable experience.
As a country known for its breathtaking landscapes—from snow-capped Himalayan peaks to lush green valleys—and as a living museum of art, culture, and spirituality, Nepal offers a unique and enriching experience.
Be it adventure tourism, spiritual journey, eco-tourism, cultural exploration, or wellness retreat, Nepal has something for every kind of traveler.
Beyond these experiences, Nepal’s greatest attraction is its people. We live by the motto ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, which means guests are like gods. Visitors are welcomed with open hearts and wide smiles.
To unlock Nepal’s full tourism potential, the Government has made significant investments in infrastructure and promotion. We now have three international airports— one each in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Bhairahawa—providing better connectivity to visitors from around the world.
Global hotel chains such as Crowne Plaza, Taj, Marriott, Hyatt, Radisson, Sheraton, and Dusit Thani, among others, are now part of Nepal’s growing hospitality landscape.
Today, Nepal has over 1,300 star-rated and tourist-standard hotels, offering more than 50,000 beds daily. Our vibrant tourism ecosystem includes over 3,700 registered travel agencies and nearly 2,800 trekking agencies, ensuring that travelers have access to high-quality services.
Excellencies, Dear Friends,
Nepal is proud to be participating in this Fair as a Prime Partner Country, with a 16-member delegation led by the Nepal Tourism Board and comprising representatives from our dynamic tourism industry.
Our presence here reflects not only our deep commitment to tourism and cultural cooperation, but also our effort to strengthen the cultural and people-to-people bonds with Bangladesh.
That said, I must speak candidly: the Gen Z protests that took place in Nepal on 8–9 September 2025 appeared likely to disrupt tourist flows and adversely impact our tourism sector.
However, following the protests, an interim government led by Rt. Hon. Sushila Karki has been formed. Peace, stability, and normalcy are gradually being restored, and all offices and businesses are now open and fully operational.
I take this opportunity to share with you that Nepal’s tourism industry has a history of remarkable resilience. Despite various natural disasters and political disturbances in the past, we have always managed to recover swiftly—and we are confident that we will bounce back this time as well.
And, even during times of political unrests and natural crises, Nepal has always remained a safe destination for foreign visitors. Tourists have never been harmed during political unrests/movements, and their safety has consistently been a top national priority.
In this spirit, we extend a warm invitation to our Bangladeshi friends and to international visitors from around the world. We invite them to visit Nepal and experience the majesty of the Himalayas, the thrill of many adventures, and the unmatched hospitality of the Nepali people.
In closing, I commend the Asian Tourism Fair for its valuable efforts in bringing together tourism professionals and prospective travelers. Let us move forward with determination and optimism to strengthen tourism cooperation and foster deeper people-to-people connections.
বাংলাদেশ এবং অংশগ্রহণকারী সকল দেশের জনগণের মধ্যে যোগাযোগ আরও জোরদার করার জন্য এই মেলার সাফল্য কামনা করছি।
আপনাদের সবাইকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ।
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