Yogesh Bhattarai
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
To tap the immense tourism potential and promote the country
as a multi-purpose tourism destination, Nepal is set to celebrate the Visit
Nepal Year 2020. The national campaign will be inaugurated by President Bidya
Devi Bhandari on January 1. The country aims at developing hundreds of new
tourism destinations during and after the VNY, bringing in 2 million foreign
tourists, enhancing the tourism sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) to 10 per cent from present 3 per cent and increasing the share
of tourism in employment.
We discussed these issues as well as the partnership of the
private sector and involvement of the local governments in the VNY2020 with the
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai at the weekly
'Gorkhapatra Sambad' on Sunday. Excerpts:
How will be the VNY2020 launched?
There was a misconception in the past that Nepal could not
organise major national and international events. But after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to
Nepal in October this year, and three visits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi to Nepal had proved that Nepali security agencies can handle sensitive
security situation efficiently and successfully. The successful
organisation of the South Asian Games (SAG) this month has sent a very strong
message to the neighbourhood and the world. Nepal earned appreciation
simultaneously for winning the medals and organising the event successfully.
On the same foundation we are inaugurating the Visit Nepal
Year 2020. President Bidya Devi Bhandari will launch the campaign on Wednesday,
January 1. Thousands of people from various walks of life, the national and
international media, tourism minister of various countries will participate in
the event. At least five tourism ministers, including from India and China,
have confirmed their participation in the inauguration ceremony being held at
the Dasharath Stadium. It will help us in the promotion of the VNY at regional
and international level.
Tourism infrastructure except hotel industry is not at
par the required standard. How can the country offer efficient and timely
services to the tourist in such a situation?
This is a relevant question, but we also should understand
that infrastructure development is a process which will go for years. We have
to create an infrastructure and continuously work to improve it. It is a never-ending
process. Since we spent last many decades in resolving the political issues and
create stability, less attention was given to infrastructure creation. But
within the next five years, we will have substantial infrastructure including
tourism, and aviation. Tourism sector development is constrained due to the
single Tribhuvan International Airport. About 7.2 million passengers annually come
to this airport. Nepal has 13 per cent yearly growth of air passengers against
the global average of 7 per cent.
The TIA need to cater its services to 9 million passengers
in the next two years which is the saturation point for it. Therefore, the
government has given priority to the development of new regional and
international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara. Bhairahawa airport will come
into operation from May 2020 and Pokhara will start flight operation from 2021.
However, our focus is Nijgadh Airport as it is near to the capital and has the
potential to be the regional air hub. At the same time, regional airports are
also created in the provinces. Road infrastructure is gradually expanding and
reaching important tourism sites in the country.
We aim to increase the tourism sector contribution to the economy
to 10 per cent from current 3 per cent. Per day expenditure average of a
tourist in Nepal is US$44 now which should be increased to $80. Our aim is to
draw about 3.5 million tourists annually after five years. New products and destinations will be
developed, and more promotional activities will be implemented for Nepal's
branding at the international level in order to achieve the goal.
You have said you have a plan to attract 10 million
tourists in the next 10 years. Don't you think that it's a bit ambitious?
I am an ambitious man otherwise I would not have reached
where I am now from a remote village in the eastern hills. We must be ambitious
in setting the national goals. After the completion of some of the critical
infrastructure like airports, cable cars and roads, it would not be difficult to
attract more tourists. But we need to work tirelessly for a decade to
materialise the dream. We will create basic tourism infrastructure in the next
10 years. If we don't aim to have 10 million tourists, building Nijgadh airport
by spending about Rs. 150 billion, will be useless.
Why has the Nijgadh airport continuously been the issue
of controversy? Even the court recently issued a stay order to the government.
Some people have imagined a disastrous situation if the
airport was built. It is just their fantasy. The government has taken
initiations to conserve the nature and forest. Holding Cabinet meeting at
Kalapatthar, tiger and rhino conservation and other activities show the
sensitivity of the government towards that direction. We will cut as few trees
as possible at Nijgadh and create even bigger forest somewhere else as well. Felling
of 2.5 million trees is just a rumour. The government has initiated a study
which will give the exact number of trees needed to be cut down.
About 2.4 million trees were cut down while building the
Istanbul Airport which is now a regional air-hub and is making Turkish people happy.
We have not forgotten that the environment and development should be taken
simultaneously.
Why is VNY in 2020? Do we have enough products to offer
to the tourists?
We have 753 local governments which are also working to
promote tourism attractions at the local level. Every province will develop its
own producst and promote on its own. We have said that in the Policy and
Programmes of the coming fiscal year, all three levels of government will come
together in creating some national, regional and local tourism attractions
across the country. This is the beginning of a campaign. It is the starting
point. VNY will not start by January 1 and end with December 31, it will go for
years in the future as well. The VNY 2020 will give us the foundation, confidence
and strategy to move ahead.
What will be the immediate economic benefit of the VNY
2020?
The main foundation for the sustainable development in Nepal
is tourism as it offers never-ending employment opportunities. In other many
areas, the number of human resources is rapidly going down due to the use of
the technology and modern practices. For example, Home Stay will involve many
people from the concerned area and promote the local agricultural as well as
industrial products. Tourism sector development will stop the internal
migration as well as hold the youth in the country. It will increase investment
both domestic and international across the country.
Where are the provinces and the private sector in VNY
2020?
The main organising committee of the VNY is primarily a
group of private sector representatives. Every State has a State organising
committee and local bodies will also have such committees. All seven States
will inaugurate the campaign on first January as well. The VNY2020 campaign is
for the private sector since it creates new business opportunities for them in
multiple sectors in tourism. Private sector will make the business strategy and
design the implementation.
Meanwhile, we have mobilised the Nepali missions abroad in
promoting the national campaign. We gathered all ambassadors in Europe in Italy,
Middle East in Oman and East Asia in Bangkok to brief them about the VNY and
direct to make it a success. Similarly, the Non-Resident Nepali Association will
be working in close coordination with the government. They have launched 'One
Nepali, One Foreign' campaign to support it which will play an important role
in sending tourists to Nepal.
Nepal's tourism is more concentrated on Himalayas and forest.
Have there been any efforts to diversify it?
We have enough attractions in the Terai,
including national parks, temples, cultural heritages, where foreign tourists
can enjoy in winter. In summer, Nepal has attractions in the hills and
mountains. However, we have to put extra efforts to promote off-season tourist
destinations and products. I am holding a meeting with the operators and
doctors of all major hospitals in Kathmandu to develop the country as the
health tourism destinations. Why not to promote Dr. Sanduk Ruit like experts
who are the national treasures and have powers to attract many foreigners for
health purposes?
We are running short of skilled human resources. I found a handful
expert sin tourism marketing at the international level. We must make immediate
interventions in 10 major markets. More focus will be given to China, India,
Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Japan, USA, UK and other European countries. I have
proposed to send a tourism attaché to all Nepali missions abroad. If we are to
believe that tourism is the strong pillar of Nepali economy, we must act
immediately.
How is the diplomatic community in Kathmandu supporting
the VNY?
We had called a meeting of all the representatives of the
diplomatic agencies in Kathmandu. We asked them to support in developing Nepali
tourism including their help in planning and strategies. Diplomats have given
positive reviews. They expressed happiness about the chance to discuss a
sectoral issue like tourism with the government and pledged their support in
making the national campaign a success.
What is the progress about removing Nepal from the European
Union's Air Safety List and splitting CAAN?
I don't see any reasons that EU should keep Nepal in the
list. Air accidents have come down significantly here. Aircraft and helicopters
operating in Nepal are safe. Audit of Nepali civil aviation last year gave the
country 66.5 per cent marks which might has reached 70 per cent now which is
much above the world average. But still we are in the air safety list. They
have demanded the split of the CAAN. One organisation can't be a regulator and
service provider at the same time. We should adopt check and balance principle
in the aviation sector which is also the international practice. We have been
continuously updating the EU and International Civil Aviation Organisation about
the recent positive development in Nepali aviation sector while Nepali missions
in the EU are continuously working for the same.
There are rumours that the construction of Gautam Buddha International
Airport needs another extension of deadline?
We have reorganised the GBIA construction. In the past, contractor,
vendors, locals and other stakeholders had become hostile to the project. As a
result, the project that should have been completed in 2018 is still running.
But now it is moving as per the given schedule. Chinese contractor failed to
supply the required materials in time which slightly delayed the construction
work. The government, Asian Development Bank – financer of the project, and
contractor had sit together and resolved all the issues.
Local bodies have committees for tourism promotion, but
they don't have strategy for it. Do you think they will support in making the
VNY2020 a success in such a scenario?
A large share of budget from the federal government goes to
the local level. They should be utilising the budget. Many central agencies
have been handed over to the local bodies or shifted to the district or
provinces. They need to understand the new set-up and work on their own. The
federal government will stop sending money for small projects but support in
developing large infrastructure.
They have to work as the partner of the federal government
in allocating resources, implementing and monitoring the projects. Ultimately,
they have to manage the products themselves.
Have you taken any steps to address the discriminatory
air charges to the tourists?
Higher air charges to foreign tourists have discouraged them
to go out of the valley which has impacted the development and promotion of
tourism destinations in far flung areas. We are in discussion with the Association
of Airlines Operators of Nepal to make the air fare identical for both the
domestic as well as foreign air travellers.
What is the status of coordination among the ministries
like home affairs and communication?
MoCTCA is the leading agency to execute the VNY2020 but we
are continuously coordinating with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and
Transport, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Communication and
Information Technology. The government had given a written direction to all the
ministries in terms of making the VNY a success. Concerned ministries have ToRs
as well. Tourists are safe in Nepal and when there is a safety issue, there is
24-hour service available.
(Prepared by Modnath Dhakal, photo by Kabita Thapa)
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 December 2019.
