Buddhist International Travel Mart Concludes: Emphasis on Promoting Buddhist Tourism Centered on LumbiniMonday, May 26th, 2025

Kathmandu – The Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM), organized by the Nepal Tourism Board, emphasized promoting Buddhist tourism with Lumbini at its core.
The BITM, which began in Kathmandu on Friday, concluded on Sunday with a special ceremony held in Lumbini. According to the Tourism Board, this three-day international event helped strengthen mutual cooperation among countries with a strong faith in Buddhism.
The event was organized by the Nepal Tourism Board in collaboration with the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA). Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chet Narayan Acharya, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, shared that the provincial government is taking significant steps to broaden the scope of tourism and contribute to economic development. He stated, “By promoting Lumbini—the birthplace of Buddha—globally, we aim to contribute to the province’s economic growth through tourism.”
Chief Minister Acharya also highlighted that the government has prioritized the development of tourism infrastructure, promotion of traditional attire and cultural heritage, construction of a Lumbini-centered Buddhist circuit, promotion of the Kaligandaki Corridor, and the installation of multilingual digital information boards at major roads and airports. “The Lumbini Province government is committed to the planned development of the Buddhist Circuit,” he added.
Prachanda Bikram Neupane, Minister for Industry, Tourism, and Transport of Lumbini Province, remarked that Lumbini is a matter of national pride and that the provincial government is striving to make it a foundation for economic prosperity. “We need to focus more on publicity,” he said. “Efforts are underway to encourage longer tourist stays, and the government is working in collaboration with the private sector to achieve this.” He also stressed the need to ensure regular flights at Lumbini Airport and informed that efforts are being made to establish direct air connectivity with Buddhist-majority countries.
Kyaw Bohne Naing, President of the Myanmar Travel Association and a participant at the event, expressed his happiness at being part of the BITM. “The experience here has been truly inspiring. We want to walk together to promote both tourism and Buddhism,” he said. He also expressed confidence that Nepal and Myanmar will strengthen their cooperation in the field of religious tourism.
Kumar Mani Thapaliya, President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA)—Nepal’s umbrella organization of tourism entrepreneurs—stated that this event was a historic opportunity not just for promoting tourism trade, but also for enhancing regional cooperation. “An agreement was signed with the Travel and Tour Operators Association of India during the opening ceremony in Kathmandu,” Thapaliya shared. “Today, a similar agreement was concluded with the Myanmar Travel Agencies, which serves as a strong foundation for regional cooperation.” He also mentioned that China’s renowned Route 318 is connected to Lumbini, which further increases the potential for Buddhist tourism.
The Buddhist International Travel Mart saw the participation of tourism professionals, Buddhist monks, scholars, and government representatives from countries including Nepal, India, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, and Japan. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the event made a significant contribution to the qualitative growth of the tourism sector, expansion of cultural ties, and strengthening of international partnerships.

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