The soft official launching of the Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 will be held amidst gala events in the capital on February 26 this year.

"With a theme ‘together for tourism’, the event will seek every individual’s commitment to making the NTY 2011 a success," said Yogendra Sakya, National Coordinator of NTY 201.

The much-awaited event aims to give a boost to Nepal’s tourism industry by bringing in one million foreign tourists.

Highlighting the framework of the launching programme, Sakya said that political commitment was a must for organising the event in a successful manner. "It will bring all stakeholders together at a platform to show their firm commitment that they will contribute to making the event a success," he said while addressing a gathering organised in the capital on Sunday to brief about the official launching of the event.

He further said that the event would be a forum for political parties, government officials, private sector, tourism stakeholders, army, armed police, police, scout members, students and journalists to express their commitment for the event.

He said that at the launching event, every group of individuals would be led by a unique Nepali cultural troupe with various cultural programmes demonstrating tourism related activities and tools.

Other speakers also called for solid commitment from the political parties to end politics of violence and strikes.

They also asked the organisers to launch the programme at various parts of the country simultaneously.

Kush Kumar Joshi, President of the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), asked the political parties to make their formal commitment to making the event a success before the launching of the programme.

"There is no significance of organising the NTY 2011 if the political parties do not make their sincere commitment to stopping strikes and bandhs," said Joshi.

He said that it was necessary to improve services at the entry and exit points for imparting a good impression to tourists.

Laxman Bhattarai, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, said that the government would make needful reforms at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and other entry points.

Prachanda Man Shrestha, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), urged one and all to remain committed to the country’s development and the promotion of the tourism industry.

He said that tourism promotion and infrastructure development would go side by side.