Province 1 CM insists on tourism development

Kathmandu: Province 1 Chief Minister Rajendra Kumar Rai has insisted on the development of tourism sector to reduce the country’s foreign trade deficit.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Province Ministry of Tourism and Culture here today on the occasion of the World Tourism Day, the Chief Minister said investment in tourism sector would contribute to the rise in tourists arrivals and thus in forex reserve and job opportunities.

The programme was held with the theme of ‘hospitality for guests, Nepali’s culture’. 

The Chief Minister was of the view of promoting people’s cultural assets and investment in infrastructure development to see a rise in tourist arrivals.

He also took time to say that the government was committed to revising laws to remove unnecessary obstructions and hurdles in the operation of hotel and tourism industries.

Tourism and culture minister Khinu Langwa Limbu said the online system has been launched to renew registration of organisations providing tourism, hotel and home stay services.  The system was inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured 30 tourists from the West Bengal, Biratnagar-based tourism entrepreneur Punya Bhattarai, Birtamod (Jhapa)-based hotelier Devibhakta Shrestha, homestay operator Ekraj Ghimire and Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Province chair Leela Ballabh Ghimire. 

He also launched a book about major touristic sites in the Province 1.