Picture: L/R: Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA and The Honourable Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation of Nepal.
(IN SHORT) At the Nepal-India-China Expo 2025 held in Pokhara, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) reinforced its commitment to fostering regional tourism collaboration. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid met with key tourism leaders from Nepal and the surrounding region, including ministers and senior officials, to discuss the significant opportunities presented by Nepal’s location between two major outbound markets, China and India. The expo, organized by the PATA Nepal Chapter and other regional stakeholders, gathered over 600 delegates and featured extensive B2B engagements along with expert discussions on trends such as outbound travel, wellness tourism, and the potential of Indian weddings in Nepal. Key themes included the development of Nepal’s MICE sector, with a call for a strategic framework to harness its full potential. The event highlighted the importance of strengthening cross-border partnerships and building resilient tourism infrastructures, underscoring PATA’s ongoing dedication to sustainable tourism development in the region.
(PRESS RELEASE) BANGKOK, 2025-Apr-2 — /Travel PR News/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional tourism collaboration through active participation in the Nepal-India-China Expo 2025 (NICE 2025) in Pokhara, Nepal. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid took part in the event, engaging with prominent tourism figures such as the Honourable Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation of Nepal; Honorable Mitra Lal Basyal, Minister for Industry and Tourism of the Gandaki Province; Binod Prakash Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB); and Khem Raj Lakhai, Chair of the PATA Nepal Chapter.
Mr Hamid emphasized that Nepal’s strategic location between two of the world’s largest outbound travel markets—China and India—presents exceptional opportunities for sub-regional tourism cooperation. “By fostering stronger ties and launching joint initiatives, the region can unlock new visitor flows, develop shared tourism products, and create a more resilient and sustainable industry,” he explained. Mr Joshi of the Nepal Tourism Board expressed his gratitude, acknowledging PATA’s valuable contributions and strategic insights, which are instrumental in enhancing Nepal’s role as a hub for regional tourism collaboration and sustainable growth.
Organized by the PATA Nepal Chapter alongside NICE 2025—the first-ever expo to unite tourism and trade partners from Nepal, India, and China—the event attracted over 600 delegates from 14 destinations, including more than 100 international participants. Jointly hosted by the PATA Nepal Chapter, Nepal Tourism Board, Pokhara Tourism Council, and other key stakeholders, the expo featured expert discussions on regional tourism trends such as China’s outbound market, aviation growth, wellness tourism, and the burgeoning market for Indian weddings in Nepal. The B2B segment of NICE 2025 facilitated over 2,100 pre-arranged business meetings between buyers and sellers from India and China.
Khem Raj Lakhai highlighted that Nepal’s unique position between India and China enables it to serve as a neutral hub for various tourism segments, including solo travel, adventure, pilgrimage, weddings, wellness, and business events. In his keynote address, Mr Hamid underscored the potential of Nepal’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector in driving overall tourism growth, urging the development of a focused strategic framework for this segment. Citing Nepal’s rich cultural heritage, breathtaking Himalayan scenery, and vibrant local traditions, he pointed to opportunities in incentive travel, niche markets like destination weddings (especially appealing to Indian travellers), and adventure sporting events, while also noting the need for further infrastructure enhancements.
PATA continues to champion regional dialogue and partnership as essential drivers of sustainable tourism development, recognizing that collaborative efforts among neighboring destinations are crucial for long-term success.
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E-mail: communications@PATA.org
SOURCE: Pacific Asia Travel Association
