The second edition of Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) opened on Friday bringing together global players from the tourism industry.

Organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter, the three-day event aims to showcase tourism products and services of the Himalaya to international buyers and sell them through business-to-business relations.

Knowledge sharing sessions on various segments like cinema tourism, wellness, human capital development and heavenly Himalaya will also be held at HTM.

More than 1,500 appointments have been scheduled during the event to establish fruitful relations between buyers and sellers, according to the organisers.

The mart is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in collaboration with the PATA Nepal Chapter.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said the government was committed to welcoming a large number of tourists as tourism is crucial for the economic growth of Nepal. The government plans to welcome 2 million tourists by 2020 and 5 million by 2030, he added. “We are expecting a large number of visitors from neighbouring countries like China and India as the trend of regional tourism is booming,” said Gyawali. “We are making efforts to develop Nepal into a peaceful hub dedicated to harmonious fraternity which the world seeks at the moment. An event like this will make the tourism sector stronger,” he added.

Similarly, Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the NTB, said the mart in which 225 international delegates including high quality buyers and sellers are participating would bring very good results to the tourism sector. “This event will be crucial in promoting Nepal as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world,” said Joshi.

Upaul Majumdar, general manager of the Soaltee Crowne Plaza, expressed happiness that the hotel had been chosen as the official hotel for the event for the second time. “Himalayan experience must be sold separately as a unique travel experience, and I am happy to see so many delegates,” he said.

The event will also feature conferences on various contemporary issues in Himalayan tourism in which buyers, sellers, media persons and stakeholders from the tourism industry will take part.