Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarat Singh Bhandari has said that Nepal Tourism Year 2011 should convey the message that Nepal is a safe destination for visitors from around the world. Speaking at a function in Kathmandu, Minister Bhandari called upon all to make the Nepal Tourism Year a grand success. This programme has been announced by the government in collaboration with the private sector to revive and stimulate Nepal’s tourism industry.
A decade ago, Nepal’s tourism industry was booming. But tourism witnessed a nosedive after the Maoist insurgency began. As the conflict intensified, the arrival of tourists dwindled, giving a big blow to Nepal’s tourism business. Ever since the peace process began, the tourism industry has seen a revival, and this business is slowly picking up. But the frequent strikes and other violence that have recently started are likely to have a negative impact on the tourism business.Nepal is one of the top ten preferred destinations for tourists.
The natural beauty, majestic Himalayan peaks, rich cultural heritage and hospitable people are some of the attractions for the visitors. There are many more attractions for adventure tourists, which Nepal should harness properly. Despite the tremendous potential, Nepal’s tourism industry has not prospered to the desired level in the absence of adequate infrastructure and services. Air tickets are not easily available to fly to Nepal. The government needs to increase the number of international flights and seats while a new tourist destination must be explored and developed. There are many places especially in the rural areas which can be of attraction for the tourists. But these areas have not come to the notice of tourists in the absence of proper publicity. Even if the tourists want to visit such destinations, they cannot go due to the poor infrastructure. If infrastructure were to be built in the rural areas and services provided, our tourism industry would diversify and benefit a lot.
This would also lengthen the stay of the visitors. The publicity campaign in the international arena has also been poor. Foreigners are not fully aware of the things Nepal can offer to the visitors. Thus, an effective publicity campaign would send the message to the world that Nepal is a safe place to visit. This would alone make the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 a success. Otherwise, there is a high chance of history repeating itself as during the Visit Nepal year in the past.