The Nepal Weekly 
March 21, 2023
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), in collaboration with the embassies of Nepal in Myanmar and Thailand, hosted ‘Nepal Evening – Lumbini and Beyond’ programme in the two countries. The Board organised the event, part of its Buddhist tourism promotion activity in the BIMSTEC region, in Yangon, Myanmar on Sunday and Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday.
According to a press release issued by the Board, the programme was organised to advertise the Greater Lumbini area and promote Nepal as an ideal destination for spiritual tourism.
At the Myanmar event, NTB’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dhananjay Regmi called on the Southeast Asian nation’s airlines to start direct flights to the two new international airports of Nepal. He also assured them that the Board would provide all necessary support to facilitate flights to and from Bhairahawa’s Gautam Buddha International Airport. Nepal’s Ambassador to Myanmar Harishchandra Ghimire recalled the role played by former Secretary-General of the United Nations U Thant for the development of Lumbini and stressed that Nepal would be a good spiritual and natural destination for the Burmese citizens to visit.
As per the statement, the programme was attended by monks, officials of the Bodhgaya Tourism Committee, the chief executive officer of Myanmar International Airlines and representatives of Myanmar Travel Associations.
Similarly, in Thailand, Nepali envoy to the country Ganesh Prasad Dhakal urged Thai tourism businesses to send tourists to Nepal. Paul Pruangkarn, chief of staff of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), also formally announced the Association’s Annual Summit and Adventure Mart at the Bangkok programme. Both the events saw an overwhelming presence from the tourism fraternity from both Yangon and Bangkok, reads the statement.
