The fifth edition of the Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM)—an international tourism fair—concluded in Kathmandu on Thursday with a shared commitment to strengthening collective efforts among Himalayan nations. Participants agreed on the need to broaden global promotional strategies to support sustainable tourism development across the region.

Held from June 3 to 5, the event aimed to establish meaningful global networking among tourism and hospitality institutions, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders, while also fostering business opportunities and valuable industry insights.

Organized jointly by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter and the Nepal Tourism Board, with support from Nepal Airlines and other national and international tourism organizations, the mart brought together over 700 delegates. These included more than 100 international guests and tourism professionals from over 30 countries.

Under the theme “Mountain Milestones and Momentum”, the mart featured conferences and group discussions on various aspects of tourism. Experts speaking at the event emphasized the need for unified efforts and practices to drive the growth of the tourism industry. They highlighted Nepal’s immense tourism potential due to its unparalleled natural beauty and diverse geography, stressing the importance of collaboration and coordination to attract global visitors.

Narendra Dev Bhatt, HTM Coordinator and Secretary-General of PATA Nepal, said the fair was designed to strengthen Nepal’s presence in international source markets by building a robust global network. According to him, HTM—first launched in 2017 and held every June—has grown into Nepal’s premier international tourism trade fair.

The conference featured more than 20 national and international speakers and thought leaders who shared perspectives on spiritual, adventure, and luxury tourism; sustainable travel; emerging market trends; and current global tourism issues.

As part of its B2B (business-to-business) segment, this year’s HTM hosted over 60 buyers from the United States, Europe, Australia, South Africa, Russia, and CIS countries. Meanwhile, more than 65 sellers represented six South Asian destinations: Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, according to PATA Nepal.

The mart concluded with a closing event at the LOD Nightclub in Thamel, where guests enjoyed musical and DJ performances. Among the attendees were PATA Nepal Chair Khem Lakai, Institutional Director of Nepal Airlines Anil Ghimire, senior officials from the Nepal Tourism Board, and tourism entrepreneurs. -- RSS