NTB Organizes Destination Promotion Program in Rome

As part of Nepal’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its tourism presence in key international markets, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), in collaboration with the Office of the Honorary Consulate General of Nepal in Rome, organized the Destination Promotion Program in Rome on March 26.

The event aimed to enhance Nepal’s visibility among Italian travelers, strengthen tourism partnerships and encourage more Italian visitors to explore Nepal’s diverse offerings.
 

More than 30 guests attended the program, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, travel trade professionals and media representatives. 

The evening began with a warm welcome from Paolo Nugari, honorary consul general of Nepal to Italy, who highlighted the current trends of Italian visitors to Nepal and portrayed Nepal as a destination for adventure, culture and heritage exploration.

In his keynote speech, Binod Prakash Singh, secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, underscored the long-standing Nepal-Italy friendship and called for greater tourism collaboration. He emphasized Nepal’s rich cultural heritage, adventure tourism opportunities and unique biodiversity, highlighting that Nepal received more than 14,000 Italian visitors in 2024.

Singh also honored the contributions of Reinhold Messner, the legendary Italian mountaineer whose achievements in Nepal’s Himalayas have inspired generations of climbers. Singh reiterated Nepal’s commitment to sustainable tourism and infrastructure development to further boost tourism and investment. He also announced that NTB will organize an Italian Tour Operator and Media Familiarization Tour in the near future. 

At the event, Khadga Bikram Shah, senior manager of NTB, made a presentation, covering Nepal’s adventure tourism, trekking routes, UNESCO heritage sites and unique travel experiences. The presentation aimed to encourage Italian tour operators to include Nepal in their itineraries and the media to write more about the tourism products of Nepal and inspire more Italian travelers to visit Nepal. Kundan Sharma Mishra, senior officer at NTB, moderated the program. 

The program concluded with a vote of thanks from Narayan Prasad Regmi, director-general of the Department of Tourism, who expressed gratitude to the Italian travel industry, media and tourism stakeholders for their continued support in promoting Nepal. Regmi also reiterated Nepal’s commitment to strengthening tourism ties with Italy and ensuring an enriching experience for Italian travelers.

The event served as a vital platform for networking and collaboration, with guests engaging in fruitful discussions on tourism partnerships. Travel agencies and media representatives pledged their support in promoting Nepal as a must-visit destination. 

A lucky draw for the invitees was part of the program and Laura Grassi, a tour operator based in Rome, won the lucky prize of a seven-day tour to Nepal. 
 

In its press release, NTB said it looks forward to welcoming more Italian travelers to Nepal.