Buddhist International Travel Mart 2025 Kicks Off, Aims to Position Nepal as Global Spiritual HubFriday, May 23rd, 2025

Kathmandu – The Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) 2025, organized by the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents(NATTA), officially began in Kathmandu, inaugurated by Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Mr. Badri Prasad Pandey. He emphasized Nepal’s goal of becoming a global center for Buddhist, spiritual, and peace tourism, noting that the message of peace, rooted in Lumbini—the birthplace of Buddha—should once again resonate worldwide.

The government aims to develop Lumbini as an “International City of Peace” and is prioritizing Buddhist circuits such as Kapilvastu, Ramgram, Devdaha, and Tilaurakot. Efforts are ongoing to enhance connectivity through Gautam Buddha International Airport and improve road networks. Nepal has requested UNESCO to keep Lumbini off its at-risk list and is working to include Tilaurakot in its tentative list.

CEO Deepak Raj Joshi described Nepal as an experience, not just a destination, highlighting its spiritual essence. The event saw remarks from provincial and national tourism leaders, with NATTA, FNCCI, and Lumbini Development Trust representatives expressing support.

A MoU was signed between NATTA and the Indian Association of Tour Operators, and a BITM souvenir was launched. The three-day event hosts over 100 tourism professionals from South and Southeast Asia.

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