KATHMANDU: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has concluded a highly successful participation at the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) Mumbai 2026, held at the Jio World Convention Centre, reaffirming India as Nepal’s strategic tourism partner and a key source market.

Nepal further strengthened its position as a global adventure and experiential tourism hub by winning the Best Adventure & Experiential Tourism Award 2026, following its recognition as the Best Adventure Destination in 2025. The back-to-back wins underscore Nepal’s growing appeal for high-adrenaline, nature-based and community-driven travel experiences.

Despite recent regional challenges, Nepal recorded a notable 30 percent increase in interest from Indian travellers in January 2026 compared to the same period last year. Capitalising on this momentum, a strong delegation of 34 leading tourism companies showcased a wide range of products at OTM, including trekking and adventure tourism, luxury mountain resorts, heritage hotels, wellness offerings and MICE facilities.

A major highlight of Nepal’s presentation was the promotion of frictionless travel for Indian visitors. NTB emphasised the advantage of the open 1,850-kilometre Nepal–India border and the growing adoption of digital payments following the integration of NPCI and Fonepay, enabling Indian tourists to use UPI-based applications such as Google Pay and PhonePe across Nepal. This, combined with Nepal’s positioning as a destination for spiritual rejuvenation and nature-based relief from urban stress, drew strong interest at the Nepal Pavilion.

Reflecting on the outcome of the event, NTB Senior Manager Suman Ghimire said Nepal’s offerings have strongly resonated with the Indian market due to their authenticity and community focus. He noted that while demand indicates the need for increased flight connectivity, Nepal’s diverse tourism products—from pilgrimage and wellness to casino and luxury tourism—continue to distinguish the destination.

The Nepal Pavilion, spanning 220 square metres at a prime location within the venue, ensured high visibility and facilitated extensive business-to-business interactions. The delegation was led by Ghimire, with support from NTB senior officers Sagar Shrestha, Siddhartha Viswakarma and Pradip Gaire, along with Office Assistant Jhamak Prasad Ghimire.

Through its strong presence at OTM Mumbai 2026, Nepal successfully projected an evolved image—moving beyond a traditional trekking destination to a multifaceted hub for adventure, luxury, wellness and spiritual tourism.