Experts emphasize on the need of integrated efforts to promote tourism

KATHMANDU : Experts and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector have emphasized that a unified effort is needed from the government, private sector and the public for the overall tourism development of the country.

Experts also said that a new thinking is necessary for tourism in the context of the changing environment and demand and called for the structural and managerial reforms of the national flag bearer Nepal Airlines Corporation in order to increase connectivity of Nepal with other countries.

Speaking at an interaction on ‘Role of Tourism in National Prosperity’ organized by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in Kathmandu on Friday, Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi said that effective coordination and cooperation between the government and the private sector is necessary for tourism rather than an isolated effort of any individual. He said that for the development of the country’s tourism sector, we should proceed with a strategic action plan to bring in more foreign tourists.

“Coordination and cooperation between the government and the private sector is necessary for tourism development. Let’s all work together. If we are able to work in coordination with each other, we will get results. The government is also trying to reform policies. There will definitely be some improvements in the upcoming policies and programs,” he said.

Similarly, Suresh Adhikari, secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said that the process for expanding the international market of NAC has progressed with the management reform of the national flag carrier. He emphasized on the need to proceed with an effective action plan for attracting international tourists.

The executive head of NTB Dr Dhananjaya Regmi while presenting the work being done by the board said that international market strategy is necessary to attract foreign tourists for the development of the tourism sector. He also mentioned that Nepal’s tourism is returning to normalcy after COVID-19 pandemic.

In the program, Secretaries Tek Narayan Pandey and Suresh Acharya and Joint Secretary Danduraj Ghimire and others pointed out that although there have been some policy reforms, more reforms are needed. In addition, they mentioned that it is necessary to pay attention to the expansion of international air services to attract tourists.

Similarly, the heads and representatives of the leading organizations in the tourism sector said that there is a need for policy reform in tourism and said that an effective planned program should be introduced to make the tourism market more dynamic.