The agreement was signed at the NTB hall by Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi and FDB Chair Dinesh DC.
Under the MoU, Nepal will officially participate in the Cannes Film Festival 2026 (B.S. 2083 Baisakh), organize an international film festival in Pokhara, launch an audio-visual storytelling campaign, and produce promotional materials focused on film tourism.
Speaking at the event, FDB Chairperson Dinesh DC described the collaboration as the beginning of a long journey. “Once films are shot in a location, those places naturally become tourist destinations,” he said, emphasizing that both institutions will work hand in hand to position Nepal as a tourism-driven nation.
NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi stated that film tourism has been prioritized with the vision of branding Nepal as the “Land of Memorable Stories.” He acknowledged the need for policy reforms, simplification of permit processes, and facilitation to attract international film productions.
“NTB participates in 50 to 60 international forums annually. Following this agreement, we can collaborate with the film sector in major global events,” Joshi said.
The MoU also includes promoting film-induced travel, commonly known as “set-jetting,” joint promotion in international exhibitions and markets, positioning Nepal as an attractive destination for audio-visual production, and advancing infrastructure development and promotional campaigns.
Nepal Journalists Federation Secretary Baikuntha Raj Parajuli termed the agreement a strategic move to further strengthen Nepal’s presence on the regional and global tourism map.
With film tourism gaining momentum worldwide, Nepal aims to showcase its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and heritage through cinema to boost international tourist arrivals.
