How to revive Nepal's tourism sector?

Tourism sector has been affected due to COVID. Billions invested in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas were deserted and thousands of jobs were lost. Nearly seven million people were forced to quit their jobs because the pandemic. 

However, the number of tourists visiting Nepal has been increasing in recent days. According to the Immigration Department, a total of 42,006 tourists have visited Nepal in March. A total of 16,975 tourists visited Nepal in January and 19,766 in February.

The government is also conducting programs and campaigns in phases to further expand the tourism sector, attract more tourists to Nepal and provide them better hospitality.

The 'National Tourism Promotion Steering Committee' was formed on January 27, 2022 under the chairmanship of Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Ale. A tourism revival technical committee was also formed under the committee. The same committee has handed over the 'National Tourism Revival Program Report' to Tourism Minister Ale today.

According to the report prepared by the committee, a total of 500,000 tourists are targeted to enter Nepal by the end of 2022. Similarly, they have targeted to bring in more than one million tourists to visit Nepal in 2023. Special campaigns will be launched for quality training and skill development in all the seven states.

According to Raja Ram Giri, coordinator of the technical committee, it is necessary to 'rebrand' with a new campaign for the sustainable tourism development of Nepal. 

Stating that it is necessary to amend the prevailing acts or policies such as Tourism Act, 2033, Civil Aviation Act, the committee has stressed on the need to encourage MICE tourism in addition to the provision of Silver Visa. The committee suggests that international meetings, exhibitions and international seminars should be organized in Nepal.

 With the re-expansion of the tourism sector, more employment opportunities will be created. According to the report submitted to Minister Ale, it is necessary to immediately form a professional marketing team for the international promotion. Similarly, the committee also suggested that special responsibilities should be given by appointing tourism officers in the countries where Nepal has embassies, said Giri. Understanding the report, Minister Ale said that the government and the private sector should make joint efforts to revive Nepal's tourism sector.