KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has underscored the need to develop the tourism sector of Nepal by considering conservation of Nepal rather than opting for destructive approach.
Inaugurating the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign at Dasarath Stadium in Tripureshwor on Wednesday evening amid the presence of foreign and national dignitaries and tourism entrepreneurs and media persons from across the world, President Bhandari asserted that two-decade long flagging socio-economic condition of Nepal should be reinvigorated through tourism. Tourism has been contribution 3 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product.
Through the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign, government of Nepal aims to attract as many as 2 million foreign tourists thereby further bolstering its contribution to the revenue.
Urging for collective effort among the Nepalis home and abroad to take forward the campaign as a ‘mega one’, President Bhandari underlined the need for promoting country’s tourism in a phase-wise manner and through the optimal use of resources.
Stating that the Visit Nepal Year 2020 would be a base year as the government was mulling to mark the next decade, 2021-2030, as the tourism decade, the President said, “Nepalis all over the world should be united to promote the cause of world peace, humanity and fraternity.”
Furthermore, the Head of the State said that Nepal was the best tourism destination with Sagarmatha (Mt Everest), birthplace of Lord Buddha-Lumbini, Chitwan and Annapurna Base Camp and other attractive destinations.
Stating that natural, cultural, environmental and physical development should be taken into account while developing and promoting tourism in the country, she viewed that locally produced food items and goods should be used while hosting the foreign tourists.
Also speaking in the inaugural, Wang Xiaofeng, assistant Minister for Tourism of China, Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister for State for Culture of India, U Ohn Maung, Minister for Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar, among others pledged to support Visit Nepal 2020 campaign to their level best in their respective countries.
China’s Assistant Minister Wang urged Nepal to host tourism promotional events in China while Myanmar’ Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maung shared that a promotional event regarding Visit Nepal 2020 would be held in Myanmar coming March.
Likewise, India’s Minister for State for Culture Prahlad Singh Patel said that religious tourism could be promoted between India and Nepal through Pashupatinath Temple and Janaki Temple in Nepal and Lord Ram’s birthplace in present-day Ayodhya in India.
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