Nepal teams up with TikTok to promote tourism
Kathmandu, Aug 19: The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has partnered with social media platform TikTok to promote its landscape, cultural heritage, and adventure experiences globally.
The deal was signed in the presence of Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey.
The initiative focuses on #LifetimeExperiences, a creator-led campaign that will feature a dedicated in-app experience to help travelers discover Nepal’s must-see destinations and hidden gems.
The NTB and TikTok will work together with local and globally renowned travel creators to invite and support them to explore Nepal and document their journeys through captivating short-form videos.
The partnership is expected to help explore Nepal’s tourism potential and amplify Nepal’s global presence. Deepak Raj Joshi, NTB’s CEO, believes that the partnership will inspire more travelers to choose Nepal as their preferred travel destination.
Ferdous Mottakin, Head of Public Policy South Asia at TikTok, expressed excitement about the partnership. (PTI)
Prayer, engineering, and eurovision help move Swedish church
KIRUNA, Aug 19: Sweden’s beloved wooden Kiruna Church is being moved 5 km east to a new town center as part of Kiruna’s relocation due to an expanding underground iron-ore mine threatening the original site.
Built in 1912 in a neo-Gothic style inspired by Sami culture, the church is considered Kiruna’s iconic building and was voted Sweden’s best pre-1950 building in 2001.
The two-day move involves engineering feats like widening roads and dismantling viaducts, with the church slowly transported on beams and wheels at 0.5 to 1.5 km/h.
The event, dubbed “The Great Church Walk,” includes blessings, musical performances, and coverage by Swedish national broadcaster SVT.
While many celebrate the historic move, some Sami leaders express concerns about mining impacts on reindeer herding. The church is set to reopen in its new location by the end of 2026. (AP)