Nepal Tourism Board and Film Development Board Ink MoU to Promote Tourism Through Cinema

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Film Development Board (FDB) have signed a four-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of promoting Nepal's tourism through films.

Under the agreement, Nepal will officially participate in the Cannes Film Festival 2026, organize an international film festival in Pokhara, launch an audio-visual storytelling campaign, and produce promotional materials related to film tourism.

Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nepal Tourism Board, and Dinesh Raj Dahal (Dinesh DC), Executive Chairman of the Film Development Board, signed the MoU during a program held at the NTB assembly hall on Wednesday. This understanding is being implemented under the approved programs and budget for the fiscal year 2082/83, informed Surya Thapaliya, Senior Manager of the Board.

According to the main point of the understanding, Nepal's official pavilion will be established at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival held every year to internationally promote Nepali films and Nepal's tourist destinations. Likewise, it was agreed to organize a film festival to develop Pokhara as a confluence of film and tourism.

At the program, Dinesh DC, Chairman of the Film Development Board, described this collaboration as the 'beginning of a long journey.' He informed that Nepal's presence at the Cannes Film Festival will be ensured every year, establishing the film sector globally. 'Once filming is completed, those locations are automatically promoted as tourist destinations,' he said, 'We will move forward hand-in-hand to make Nepal a tourism-centric country.'

Similarly, Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, stated that film tourism has been prioritized with the goal of establishing Nepal as the 'Land of Memorable Stories.'

He mentioned the necessity of policy reforms, simplification, and facilitation of the permit process required for film shooting, adding that collaboration with the Film Board will help promote high-potential destinations in the international market. 'The Tourism Board participates in 50-60 international forums annually; following this agreement, the Film Sector can collaborate in the major programs where the Board participates,' he said.

The MoU encompasses encouraging film-inspired travel (set-jetting), joint promotion in international exhibitions and markets, establishing Nepal as an attractive destination for audio-visual production, and operating infrastructure development and promotion campaigns. Senior Manager Thapaliya of the Board stated that this collaboration will increase tourist attraction even in less-known destinations, stimulate the local economy, create employment, and strengthen cultural exchange.

Furthermore, Baikuntha Raj Parajuli, Secretary of the Nepal Journalists Federation, stated that this understanding between the Tourism Board and the Film Development Board is a strategic step to establish Nepal more firmly on the regional and world tourism map. In the context of film tourism gaining momentum globally, Nepal aims to increase tourist arrivals by presenting its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and heritage to the world through the screen.