Kathmandu, The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has officially announced “Nepal–ASEAN Tourism Year 2026” on the occasion of its 27th anniversary, aiming to strengthen tourism ties with ASEAN countries.
Photo Source: NTB
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, NTB Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi identified ASEAN nations as a high-potential and long-term tourism market for Nepal. He said Nepal will promote itself in the region through Buddhist and spiritual tourism, adventure and nature tourism, wellness and Ayurveda, and culture- and community-based tourism. Joshi informed that more than 107,000 tourists from ASEAN countries have already visited Nepal. He also shared that Nepal is expected to receive around 1.16 million international tourists in 2025, representing a nearly 3 percent increase compared to the previous year.
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Photo Source: NTB
The program was chaired by Mukunda Niraula, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and attended by Tourism Minister Anil Kumar Sinha as Chief Guest and Women, Children and Senior Citizens Minister Shradha Shrestha as Special Guest. NTB reported organizing 31 tourism marts, 12 branding and corporate promotional activities, and over 20 MICE events in 2025. The Board also conducted live destination promotions, published travel information in multiple languages, and supported tourism infrastructure development nationwide.
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Photo Source: NTB
NTB further unveiled seven key travel trends for 2026, including a shift toward peaceful travel experiences, increased use of Gen-AI in governance, preference for personalized and off-grid destinations, and a culture-first tourism approach. Presenting the future roadmap, Joshi said NTB is preparing a 2026–2035 strategic action plan focused on digital innovation, high-value tourism, sustainable development, and stronger public-private collaboration. Video messages from PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid, World Tourism Network, and UN Tourism were also shared during the event. NTB also launched its annual publication, “In-Focus,” on the occasion.
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Photo Source: NTB
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