July 8: The second meeting of the Joint Working Group Meeting (JWG) on Tourism Cooperation between India and Nepal held on July 6 in Kathmandu agreed to jointly promote historically and culturally important tourism circuits such as the Ramayana and Buddhist Circuit, including adventure tourism.

This is the first of its kind cooperation mechanism in the region wherein any two countries have agreed to promote each other’s’ tourist destinations, reads a joint press statement issued after the meeting.

The two sides further decided to establish Indo-Nepal Tourism Forum with support of the two governments.

It was agreed during the meeting to improve critical tourism enabling infrastructures such as overland road connectivity, further streamlining of scheduled bus route operations including luxury coaches.

The Indian side agreed to extend all possible cooperation in the domain of human resource development in tourism and hospitality sectors through intake of Nepali professionals in professional courses in Indian universities, regular exchange of experts and academia, reads the press statement.

The Nepali delegation was led by Ghanashyam Upadhyaya, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Indian delegation was led by Suman Billa, joint secretary for tourism ministry.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held in New Delhi at a date convenient to both sides.