JHAPA: The government is mulling over reviving the shrinking tourism sector promoting domestic tourism in 2021.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said the government is mulling over declaring 2021 as Domestic Tourism Year and has started preparation accordingly.
It should be recalled that the government had withdrawn the much-hyped Visit Nepal 2020 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak since January.
Inaugurating Siddhartha Hotel Grand City Pvt. Ltd, a three-star level facility in Birtamod Jhapa, Minister Bhattarai revealed that his Ministry has initiated the act and taken it to Prime Minister KP Oli who will grant go-ahead signal soon.
“The government is committed to helping the shrunken tourism sector revive through the promotion of domestic tourism,” he said adding, “The proposal is taken to the PM, we will declare either 2021 or New Year 2078 BS as the year for domestic tourism.”
Citing that the number of Nepalis going on tour abroad is higher than the Nepalis who take to domestic tourism, Minister Bhattarai urged the entrepreneurs to make enticing packages for the people aspiring to visit different parts of Nepal.
He pointed out that though foreigners did not come to Nepal due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the places like Shree Antu and Kanyam of Ilam, Pathibhara and Kanchanjungha of Taplejung, Bhedetar of Dhankutan, Namche of Solukhumbu survived due to the movements of domestic tourists.
Minister Bhattarai shared his proposal of offering two days of holiday in a week so that the people can make one or two night out package promoting internal tourism.
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