Development of tourism sector essential for building self-reliant economy

Kathmandu: National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal has said the development of the tourism sector is essential for a self-reliant economy.

The Chair of the upper house of the Federal Parliament said this while inaugurating the 28th and the 29th annual general meeting and election of Thamel Tourism Development Council here today. On the occasion, he said Nepal has immense tourism potential and it is essential to develop the tourism infrastructures as well as to publicize the country’s tourism products worldwide.

Chair Dahal described Nepal as a superb destination for adventure tourism, mountaineering tourism, trekking and tourism and cultural tourism among several other tourism areas. He also called on the Council to further promote tourism in the Thamel area as per its tourism development master plan. Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr. Ganesh Prasad Pandey suggested managing the traffic within the Thamel area and further improving the business environment, cleanliness and sanitation and various tourism-related services.

Deputy Inspector General at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office Ranipokhari, Krishna Hari Sharma, underscored working for the development of the tourism sector as it is one of the major pillars of the country’s economy. Chairman of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ward No 26, Khyam Raj Tiwari said that Thamel has an important place in Nepal’s tourism sector as 80 percent of foreign tourists coming to Nepal visit Thamel.

He said that the government has not kept Thamel as a priority despite its importance and called on the government to move ahead bringing concrete plans for the development of the tourism sector in the country. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Vice-Chairman Ram Prasad Sapkota called on all sides to join hands in making Thamel systematic and further promoting tourism in the area.

He added that NTB would work vigorously the publicise Nepal’s tourism in the international arena to bring in as many tourists.

Council chairperson Bhabishwar Sharma expressed confidence that the remaining works to be carried out within Thamel would be completed in the coming days while Vice-Chairperson Sahadev Dhamala said the Council has been working to develop Thamel as a tourism hub. Election is taking place today for electing a 15-member working committee of the Council.