KATHMANDU: At the World Tourism and Aviation Summit-2025 in Berlin, Germany, Nepal's Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, was recently presented with the Himalayan region's "Tourism Minister of the Year" award.  As part of the prestigious ITB Berlin annual awards, which recognize outstanding tourism ministers, the award event has been presented by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) since 1999.

Entrepreneurs in attendance recognized Pandey's efforts in advancing Nepal's tourism policies, and the award recognizes ministers who have made noteworthy contributions to the industry. They said the accolade was evidence of Nepal's continuous efforts to raise its visibility in the world travel arena.

He further added that the award should not be viewed purely at a personal level, saying it should be taken by the whole tourism industry in Nepal. He emphasized that the recognition was a tribute to the country's growing tourist sector and the collaboration of all those involved in this endeavor.

The Minister spoke about the importance of AI concerning wide tourism services and how the technology will greatly enhance the tourist experience during trips. Another talk by Panday concerns environmentally friendly hospitality initiatives and Nepal's tourism benefiting the local population.

He also underlined the government's commitment to boosting green infrastructure investments to make sure the growth of tourism aligns with sustainable development ideals. The emphasis on eco-friendly travel is seen as crucial to maintaining Nepal's natural beauty, which attracts tourists.

In addition to winning the award, Pandey was present at the ITB Ministers Summit-2025, where world leaders talked about the contributions of digital advancements to the travel and tourism industry as well as the future of sustainable travel. This conference provided a platform for discussing the future of international travel in a rapidly evolving environment.

In addition to Pandey's individual accomplishments, the prize highlights Nepal's larger efforts to boost travel in a world market that is becoming more and more competitive.