KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal on Sunday said that Nepal has been established as a safe and peaceful tourist destination.
Successful implementation of the campaign to distribute Covid-19 vaccines and bringing rebel groups to mainstream national politics have provided a positive message in tourism sector, said the minister at the 44th annual general assembly of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Nepal chapter.
He expressed the hope that tourism would take a stride in the days to come with the rebel groups, Netra Bikram Chand and CK Raut-led groups, entering the peaceful politics.
Urging the PATA, Nepal chapter to bring a strategic plan for the diversification and international marketing of tourism sector, he said the Ministry was ready to go hand in hand in this regard.
In another context, the minister stressed the need for the government and private sector to take joint initiatives in making Nepal known to the world as an attractive destination for culture and typical dishes following the achievement of Nepal’s chef Santosh Sah, who recently finished as first runner-up in a BBC television competitive cooking show, Master Chef, The Professionals, 2020.
On the occasion, Ministry’s Secretary Yadav Prasad Koirala pledged the Ministry’s support and help for the promotion and recovery of tourism and sustainable tourism development programs to be organized by the PATA in the days to come.
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board Dr Dhananjaya Regmi promised the Board’s cooperation for recovery, promotion and development of tourism sector.
The general meeting of the PATA, Nepal chapter drew the attention of the stakeholders on 10 different subjects to promote tourism and ease arrivals of foreign tourists.
In this regard, Bhivuti Chand Thakur, Chairperson of the PATA, Nepal chapter urged the concerned authorities to remove mandatory quarantine system to inbound tourists and manage on-arrival visa and PCR tests for them among others.
On the occasion, the PATA, Nepal handed ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to former tourism secretary and founding chairperson of the NTB Dipendra Purus Dhakal for his invaluable contribution to tourism of Nepal.
Likewise, Chief Executive Officer, PATA Dr Mario Hardy won ‘Tourism Trailblazer Award’.
Chef Sah bagged ‘PATA Personality of The Year Award, 2020’ and Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management ‘Best Student Chapter of The Year Award, 2020’, according to a statement released by the PATA, Nepal chapter.
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