KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has pledged to bring in 500,000 tourists in a year after COVID-19 subsides.

The first meeting of the Tourism Revival Committee unveiled the aim of the government to attract 500,000 tourists in 2022 and double the figure in 2023.

However, the year, 2021 saw the arrival of around 100,000 tourists- the lowest in 32 years.

The government has prioritized the tourism sector ruined by the pandemic, said the Minister.

“COVID-19 has battered tourism. The government is ready to carry out tourism promotion and development activities.”