POKHARA: Tourism stakeholders from Nepal and India gathered in Pokhara on Thursday for the second India–Nepal Tourism Meet, underscoring Gandaki Province’s rising profile as a key destination for cross-border travel.

Jointly organized by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, the Nepal Tourism Board and the Pokhara Tourism Council, the meet focused on promoting tourism between Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, with special emphasis on Gandaki Province. The programme also coincided with the celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives.

Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, the chief guest at the event, said increasing tourism cooperation with India was vital for destinations such as Pokhara and the pilgrimage site of Muktinath.

Highlighting improved air and land connectivity, Dr Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, said enhanced access was creating new opportunities for cross-border tourism. He emphasized joint promotion of religious and cultural circuits linking Nepal with neighbouring Indian states.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism Joint Director Dinesh Kumar presented major tourism circuits of the Indian state, including preparations for the upcoming Magh Mela, while sharing policy-level experiences in tourism development.

Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi noted that India continues to be Nepal’s largest inbound tourism market and outlined NTB’s initiatives to further strengthen tourism flows between the two countries.

A key highlight of the meet was a B2B session attended by tour operators from both sides, focusing on collaboration in land-route tourism, Buddhist circuits, wildlife experiences and adventure tourism. Earlier, a familiarization trip for the Uttar Pradesh delegation was organized in Pokhara from December 15 to 17.