Published: 11:52 PM, 29 October 2026
60,000 Bangladeshis visit Nepal annually: Envoy
Around 60,000 Bangladeshi tourists visit Nepal annually, with the number steadily increasing, Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh GhanshyamBhandari said today, expressing optimism about expanding bilateral tourism exchanges and strengthening people- to-people connectivity.
"We have about 60,000 Bangladeshi tourists visiting Nepal every year, according to the current data, and the trend is increasing," he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2026.
The 14th edition of the international tourism exhibition began at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) in capital's Agargaon, BSS reports.
Highlighting the growing popularity of Nepal among Bangladeshi travellers, Bhandari expressed hope that the upward trend would continue, with increasing numbers of tourists travelling in both directions.
He said tourism had emerged as an important bridge between Nepal and Bangladesh, contributing significantly to strengthening friendship, cultural understanding and people-to-people relations.
"Geography makes us neighbours, but it is travel and tourism that makes us friends," he said, underscoring the importance of tourism in bringing the people of the two countries closer.
The ambassador said Nepal was participating as one of the partner countries in the fair with a 25-member delegation representing its tourism industry.
He encouraged Bangladeshi and international tour operators, travel agencies and tourism entrepreneurs to engage with the Nepalese delegation to explore business opportunities and establish stronger professional networks.
Bhandari said international tourism exhibitions like BTTF provided valuable platforms for connecting tourism stakeholders from different countries, facilitating business partnerships and promoting greater travel exchanges.
He expressed confidence that such initiatives would contribute to expanding tourism cooperation and strengthening commercial linkages between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Highlighting the broader significance of tourism, the envoy said travelling offered opportunities not only to explore different destinations, cultures and communities but also to discover oneselfthrough meaningful experiences.
"Travel gives an opportunity not just to explore cities, places, villages and countries, but also to explore yourself," he said.
Referring to Nepal's majestic mountains and the natural beauty of both countries, Bhandari said travel could offer unique experiences of personal reflection and a deeper appreciation of nature.
Speaking briefly in Bangla, the ambassador said any discussion of Nepal-Bangladesh relations would remain incomplete without mentioning tourism.
He described tourism as an important link connecting the two nations and stressed the indispensable role of tour operators and travel entrepreneurs in strengthening bilateral tourism exchanges.
Bhandari hoped the fair would help expand tourism businesses, build stronger partnerships and bring the people of Nepal and Bangladesh closer together.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary DrNurunNaharChowdhury inaugurated the fair as the chief guest.
Organised by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) under the theme "AI Powered Tourism, Sustainable Destination", the three-day exhibition will continue until October 31.
The fair features participation from 16 countries, including Bangladesh, bringing together tour operators, airlines, hotels, travel agencies and other tourism stakeholders to promote international cooperation, business networking and sustainable tourism development.
