The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has organised a discussion programme to explore the possibility of direct air service between Yangon, Myanmar and Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA) in Bhairahawa. The meeting involved high-ranking officials from the Nepali and Myanmar governments, as well as representatives from the Lumbini Development Trust and Myanmar National Airlines. The NTB hopes that a direct flight from Myanmar, a Buddhist country, will help promote religious tourism to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, in addition to increasing tourism and economic activity in the region. Myanmarese stakeholders expressed support for the initiative and promised to study its technical aspects.