Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Hisila Yami, experiences Queenstown's adventure tourism industry first-hand yesterday, at the Kawarau bridge. Photo supplied.

Adventure tourism, single-propeller aircraft and Sir Edmund Hillary were the topics of conversation when a Government minister from Nepal paid an informal visit to Queenstown yesterday.

Maoist Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Hisila Yami decided to visit where adventure tourism began 20 years ago after bungy jumping from the 160m-high Bhotekoshi suspension bridge over the river in Nepal earlier this month as part of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

Mrs Yami took a bungy jump from the 43m-high Kawarau bridge at the AJ Hackett Bungy Centre as a tribute to the birthplace of an activity that has exploded with popularity in her home country, she said.

"I'm proud [and] happy that I'm able to come to the original place... I was told not to miss the Queenstown bungy, where the real adventure tourism is."

After completing an official visit to Australia, Mrs Yami and under-secretary Birendra Kumar Singh flew to Auckland then were greeted at Queenstown Airport by Destination Queenstown chief executive Stephen Pahl and International Co-ordination Council member Chakra Thapa, representing the Non Resident Nepali Association, who accompanied the minister to the bungy centre and Shotover Jet.

Mrs Yami said the city of Pokhara was to Nepal what Queenstown was to New Zealand, with a new regional airport being developed, although this country was lucky to have the sea and snow as additional attractions, she said.

"You've kept your environment so clean and beautiful. I wish we could do the same but we have a population mounting... We want to see Pokhara does not get urbanised like Kathmandu."

The minister asked how tourism promotion was funded and discussed single-propeller aeroplanes, which would open up remote areas of Nepal to national airline and commercial tourism operators.

Nepal and Brazil have been recognised as emerging markets in world adventure tourism.

However, both Mrs Yami and Mr Pahl said that did not mean an eventual rival for Queenstown.

"I wouldn't say rivals, we have a lot to share from each other," Mrs Yami said.

Mr Pahl said: "Technically, one could look at Nepal as competition but we're at the opposite ends of the world and there's some very good synergies that could be achieved, and it only encourages people to travel further.

"We have two common emerging markets in China and India so we'll be having further discussions with the minister's office and see if there are any opportunities for joint promotions."