‘Make tourism industry country’s top priority’

Minister for Tourism Ram Kumar Shrestha has stressed on the need to make tourism industry a priority of the government, adding that Nepal stands to gain a lot from this sector as the country is blessed with natural beauty and cultural heritage. Minister Shrestha, who was addressing the 50th Annual General Meeting of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) in the capital on Thursday, said that tourism industry is the only industry of its kind where massive profits and returns can be expected from minimal investment. “So tourism industry should fall in the priority list of both the government and the private sector,” he said, adding that national carrier Nepal Airlines has almost been relegated to a situation of being without any aircrafts and that the country can breathe a sigh of relief only after it gets aircrafts from Europe and China for both national and international operation. Also speaking at the programme, Secretary at the Tourism Ministry Sushil Ghimire, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) President Suraj Vaidya, NATTA President Pavitra Kumar Karki and Acting CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Subash Niraula stressed on the need for increased cooperation and coordination between the government, private sector and all stakeholders for the development and promotion of Nepal’s tourism industry. The 50th AGM of NATTA is also electing a new leadership of the umbrella organisation of tour operators in the country. NATTA’s First Vice President Madhu Sudan Acharya and its former General Secretary D.B Limbu are vying for the post of President. source: nepalnews