Kathmandu [Nepal], May 13 (ANI): The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the facilitating and regulatory body for tourists visiting Nepal, has clarified that no restrictions have been imposed on Indian tourists travelling across the Himalayan nation.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Nepal Tourism Board expressed serious concern about the misleading and factually incorrect information being circulated by different media outlets and online platforms regarding travel regulations for Indian visitors to Nepal.

'Reports claiming that the Government of Nepal has imposed new restrictions requiring mandatory identity cards for Indians crossing the Nepal-India border, capped Indian tourist stays at 30 days, or authorised confiscation of vehicles for overstays are entirely false, baseless, and misleading,' NTB said in the statement.

It clarified that no new policy has been introduced restricting the duration of stay for Indian tourists, nor have any changes been made to the longstanding open-border arrangements and bilateral understandings between Nepal and India.

'The historic people-to-people relations, cultural ties, and tourism cooperation between the two countries remain strong and unchanged,' it stated.

Further adding, 'In fact, the Government of Nepal has recently introduced a new online facilitation system aimed at making travel more convenient for Indian tourists and other international visitors entering Nepal via land routes with private vehicles.

'Under this newly launched digital system developed by the Department of Customs under the Ministry of Finance, foreign vehicles entering Nepal can now complete temporary entry permits and revenue payments entirely online. This initiative has been introduced solely to simplify procedures, reduce inconvenience at border points, and enhance the overall visitor experience.'

The tourism body also urged media organisations, digital platforms, tourism stakeholders, and the general public to refrain from spreading unverified information. It requested all parties to rely only on official government sources for accurate updates regarding tourism policies and travel regulations.

'Nepal remains a safe, welcoming, and friendly destination for visitors from India and around the world. The Government of Nepal remains fully committed to promoting smooth cross-border travel, sustainable tourism, and high-quality visitor experiences while preserving the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Nepal and India,' NTB stated. (ANI)