Kathmandu: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organized a Regional Workshop aimed at developing an integrated Buddhist Circuit across South Asia successfully concluded in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The workshop brought together delegates from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and India.
The workshop was held from May 6 to May 7 and focused on promoting a women-led rural tourism model as a cornerstone for sustainable and inclusive tourism development. The workshop was organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, in collaboration with the South Asian Women’s Network (SWAN) and the Tawang District Administration.
The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh; and Dasanglu Pul, Minister for Women & Child Development, Science & Technology, and Cultural Affairs. The event brought together policymakers, tourism experts, women leaders, and key stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening regional cooperation, tourism connectivity, and sustainable tourism models centered around Buddhist heritage and women-led tourism initiatives.
Some of the key highlights according to NTB were Regional Cooperation, Women-led Rural Tourism Model, Connectivity and Infrastructure, Standards and Certification, Branding and Marketing, and Role of Festivals.
The Nepal delegation was led by Yankila Sherpa, Member of Parliament for Bagmati Province and Former Minister of Tourism, along with Srijana Nepali from NTB, Roshan Ghimire and Suzana Kansakar from the International Development Institute (IDI), Anju Minshra and Dikila Sherpa from T-Help, Kedar Nath Sharma and Kiran Koirala from Bar Pipal Bisauni Homestay, and Pankaj Pradhananga from Impact Adventure.
The delegation highlighted identified Buddhist sites in Nepal, with a special focus on the women-led rural tourism model, connectivity among identified Buddhist destinations, and the importance of standardization, branding, and marketing of the Buddhist Circuit.
A special presentation was delivered by Srijana Nepali, Senior Officer at Nepal Tourism Board, on the branding and marketing of the Buddhist Circuit. During her presentation, Nepali highlighted Nepal’s sustained efforts in promoting the Buddhist Circuit, with particular emphasis on strategic branding initiatives and integrated promotional campaigns aimed at enhancing its international visibility and positioning Nepal as a leading spiritual tourism destination. She further elaborated on Nepal’s approach to strengthening destination identity through coordinated marketing interventions and stakeholder engagement.
