Kathmandu, November 3

Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) is participating in the 35th edition of Philoxenia International Tourism Exhibition that is going to start from Friday in Greece.

In coordination with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), 10 travel and tour agents from Nepal are participating in the three-day-long event in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Speaking during a press meet organised here today, CN Pandey, president of NATTA, said the representation of NATTA in Philoxenia Expo will be majorly focused on promotion of Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign.

“While our major focus will be on promoting VNY 2020 campaign, this is a golden opportunity for us to promote Nepal among tourism stakeholders from Europe,” he said.

As Nepal is focusing on high-end tourists for the development of the country’s tourism industry, NATTA and NTB expect this exhibition to play a significant role in promoting Nepal in Europe.

As per Pandey, Nepal is participating in Philoxenia Expo — an annual event that has been held since last 30 years — for the first time.

“The participation of Nepal in this exhibition is expected to increase the number of tourists travelling to Nepal from Greece,” he added.

According to the Department of Immigration, around 100 tourists from Greece come to Nepal every month.

As per NATTA, around 600 exhibitors from 18 countries, including Cyprus, Egypt, Austria, Russia, Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Poland, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Peru, Philippines and Indonesia will be participating in the event.

Furthermore, around 180 international individual buyers will attend the tourism exhibition ‘duo’, while another 125 will be participating as a group delegation from Bulgaria, Albania and former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Likewise, over 4,000 meetings between exhibitors and major tour operators from 36 countries have been scheduled.