Kathmandu, Oct. 25: The Nepal-India Cross Border Tourism Connect 2026 is scheduled to take place from October 26 to 28. This event is organized by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council (ICCC) and the Samriddha Chitwan Campaign.

The program aims to strengthen the tourism partnership between Nepal and India. Somnath Sapkota, the program coordinator and spokesperson for the NRNA International Coordination Council, highlighted the event’s focus on promoting tourism while fostering cross-border connections and enhancing friendship.

The initiative seeks to effectively promote Nepal within the Indian tourism market and establish direct business connections between tourism entrepreneurs from both countries. The goal is to link Nepal’s tourist destinations with the international tourism network. Sapkota emphasized the potential for growth in Nepal’s tourism sector by attracting more Indian tourists to Nepal’s diverse attractions, including religious, spiritual, cultural, natural, wildlife, and adventure tourism sites.

Sapkota underlined the importance of engaging Indian tourists directly with Nepal’s tourism offerings rather than relying solely on promotional materials. The program aims to introduce Indian tourists to local hotel and resort operators, provide information about available services and facilities, and lay the groundwork for future business partnerships.

The event will host 21 tourism entrepreneurs and representatives from various Indian cities. They will participate in direct meetings and business discussions with Nepali tourism entrepreneurs, hotel operators, and local tourism stakeholders. The agenda includes business meetings, introductory visits, discussions on creating tourism packages, and exploring ways to increase regular tourist arrivals. The program also seeks to connect Lumbini, Ramgram, Devghat, Nawalpur, and Chitwan into a cohesive tourism circuit.

Sapkota highlighted the potential to expand regional tourism collaboration by integrating areas such as Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Kapilvastu Municipality, Lumbini Cultural Municipality, Tilottama Municipality, Devdaha Municipality, and Ramgram Municipality into a comprehensive tourism network.