KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has returned to Nepal after concluding an official visit to Germany, France, Thailand, and Cambodia.
The visit focused on tourism promotion, cultural exchange, air service expansion, and building partnerships for religious tourism.
During the visit, Minister Pandey held bilateral and multilateral meetings with high-ranking officials, tourism entrepreneurs, investors, and the Nepali diaspora. The discussions revolved around positioning Nepal as a premier tourist destination, promoting religious and cultural tourism, and fostering mutual cooperation.
In Germany and France, Minister Pandey urged investors to explore opportunities in Nepal’s tourism sector and highlighted the country’s potential in tourism infrastructure development.
Minister Pandey received the “Tourism Minister of the Year” award at the World Tourism and Aviation Summit – Himalayan Region, organized by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) in Berlin. The award was presented in recognition of his efforts to promote tourism and aviation in the Himalayan region.
He also participated in the ITB Berlin-2025, where he showcased Nepal’s tourism potential to an international audience.
A key aspect of the visit to Germany was the discussion on the preservation and repatriation of ancient Nepali manuscripts. Minister Pandey praised German scholar Professor Michaels for his contribution to safeguarding Nepal’s heritage and emphasized the ongoing collaboration between Nepal and German universities to protect and document the country’s written heritage.
Nepali Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Shail Rupakheti, reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating the return of these manuscripts.
At a program organized in Paris by the Nepali Embassy and the Nepal Tourism Board, Minister Pandey invited French citizens to visit Nepal, emphasizing the country’s unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, adventure tourism, and spirituality.
In Cambodia, Minister Pandey met with Minister of Tourism Huot Hak and Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs Chai Borin to discuss building a religious tourism network and expanding air connectivity.
They explored the potential for a larger Buddha circuit connecting major religious sites like Lumbini, Muktinath, Janaki Temple, and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
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