Second Buddhist International Travel Mart (BITM) – 2023 and Silver Jubilee of BIMSTEC concluded with a seven point declaration in Lumbini.

The event was hosted by Government of Nepal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, organized by Nepal Tourism Board, implemented by Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), and supported by Lumbini Development Trust, Pawan Palace Hotel, Nepal Airlines, Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and others institutions.

Upon the completion of two day long International Conference and B2B sessions held in Lumbini from 11 to 12 May 2023, the BITM issued the following "BITM 2023- Lumbini Declarations"

• Promote Lumbini, Birth Place of Lord Buddha (Shakyamuni) and Fountain of Peace as the starting point of the Buddhist Circuit and a Peace Destination
• Develop a common package with different activities to extend the stay of a tourist in Lumbini and other Buddhist sites
• Prioritize Transnational networking and engaging activities to the tourists
• Extend the Buddhist Circuit of four major sites (Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar) to other Buddhist sites in the circuit in the BIMSTEC region
• Develop and execute common narratives/stories to sell that is able to link the individual sites to a holistic narrative
• Promote and expand connectivity via Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport to other international destinations
• Build the trust and provide quality services to the tourists

The conference 2023 also agreed to establish BITM as an annual event to develop, brand and showcase Buddhist tourism, products and activities in the international spheres. The third of BITM will be organized on March 25, 2024.