Maya Devi Maternity Route being conceptualised

Kathmandu, Feb. 18

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has suggested that there was a need for immediate, intermediate and long-term programmes to move forward the tourism sector.

"In the immediate programme, we need to give message to the global community that tourism in Nepal is restarting, intermediate programmes are required to gain confidence of the travel industry, and long-term programmes should reflect that Nepali tourism is back on track," said NTB's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dhananjaya Regmi at a press briefing on 'Reviving tourism – covid-19 and Beyond' on Thursday.

He said that the NTB had already started some of the projects and programmes as per the vision.

"In this changed context, we must think about developing Nepal as an all-season destination, increase tourists stay period and increase their expenses in Nepal. We must expand tourist infrastructure and activities like mountaineering in the Himalayan region, tourists hubs with hill stations in the hills and casinos in the Terai," he said.

According to him, NTB is working with the stakeholders in reviving the tourism sector that is the most affected one by the COVID-19 pandemic.

NTB has submitted the detailed tourism development plan with selected projects across the country to the Ministry of Finance sometimes ago. Health hygiene protocol prepared and distributed in Nepali and English language and destinations like Lumbini and Pokhara are being branded.

Dr. Regmi said that Maya Devi Maternity Route is being conceptualised to promote an integrated tourism product to the international tourists and Buddhist pilgrims.

Likewise, Pokhara is being branded as destination for morning to evening activities. It can be a high-end destination and a niche market. It also can be a tourism capital of the country.

Tourism entrepreneur Bikram Pandey said that Maya Devi Maternity Route is useful in linking Lumbini and Kapilvastu. "International scholars and tourists always talk about enlightenment route only. We must promote this new product," he said.

Another entrepreneur Bishesh Shrestha said that as quarantine was not maintained by the hotels and tourists, government should remove the mandatory quarantine provision for them.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2021.