Leaders View:

K.P. Sharma Oli
R. Hon’ble Prime Minister Of Nepal

I am pleased to learn that Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) is bringing out a special issue of souvenir on Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2019), first of its kind in the Nepalese tourism history.

The Mart will be a memorable trendsetter in showcasing new tourism products and destination development of Nepal. Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Gautam Buddha will be promoted as the gateway and the first stopover in the Buddhist circuit. I am delighted to know BITM has the theme “Explore the Buddhaland: A Gateway to Buddhist Circuits”. The theme will definitely help to promote Lumbini as the first and foremost pilgrimage amongst all the Buddhist sites. The Mart will be a milestone in unfolding the spiritual tourism and pilgrimage tourism in and around Buddha’s historical places. While exploring Buddha’s land, it will be interesting to visit Maya Devi, Ramgram, Kudan, Kapilvastu; places that are related to the life of Lord Buddha. I wish NATTA every success in its initiation and hope it will continue the Mart in the days ahead. I would also like to thank Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, NATTA and all tourism related organizations for their collective effort in making BITM 2019 a great success.

Hon’ble Rabindra Adhikari
Minister for Culture,Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA)
I would like to extend my best wishes to NATTA and NTB for conducting this Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2019) with the theme of Explore the Buddhaland: A Gateway to Buddhist Circuit. I wish entire team for their collective effort in bringing the Buddhist International Travel Mart in action, which highlights the Buddhist sites of Nepal spreading the message that Nepal is center for world peace. It will definitely create the op-portunity for the niche market of spiritual and pilgrimage tourism in Nepal and will help to expand the new travel products. I do expect it will create awareness to develop Lumbini as the first pilgrimage spot to start Buddhist Circuits in and around the Buddhist destinations in Asia, a gateway to Buddhist circuits. My special thanks to staff of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ne-pal Tourism Board, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents together with all pioneer tourism - related stakeholders, travel - related Government, Non-Gov-ernment, Semi-Government and international organizations for providing their support and assistance in this BITM 2019 Campaign.

Krishna Prasad Devkota
Secretary for Culture,Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA)
It gives me immense pleasure to be the Chair of the Main Organizing Committee of the Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM 2019). The theme of this event is to Explore the Buddhaland: A Gateway to Buddhist Circuits. Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, also known as “The Light of Asia”. Hence, Lumbini is one of the holiest places of all theBuddhist sites in the world. A number of Buddhist devotees and spiritually inclined tourists visit Lumbini, Nepal every year for the very purpose of visiting the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Nevertheless, Lumbini has not been globally recognized as spiritual place for peace and harmony. I hope this is a great opportunity for every tourism stake-holder to promote and highlight Buddhist destinations of Nepal. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude towards Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (Host of BITM), Nepal Tourism Board (Organizing Partner of BITM), Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Implementing Partner of BITM) and all other stakeholder organizations supporting this event. Finally, I believe, this event will help develop Lumbini as a must-visit destination for all spiritual human beings in the world and the locals benefit economically. Finally, I wish BITM 2019, a very successful and productive programme in the start of the New Year