Nepal should focus on tourism infrastructure for VNY 2020

Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Sunday that Nepal needed to focus on the development of tourism and transport infrastructure to make the Visit Nepal Year 2020 a success.

"Nepal is an attractive destination for tourists from around the world, and we have aimed to draw more than 2 million tourists in 2020, therefore, we need to give priority to the tourism infrastructure," he said while speaking at a programme organised to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Travel Himalaya magazine.

He stressed on the timely completion of the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport and other domestic airports in major tourism areas.

According to Minister Gyawali, the government will hold interactions and discussions with the key donor agencies, during the Nepal Investment Summit which will be held on 29 and 30 this month in the Capital, to develop strategies for the VNY 2020 and make it a success.

He also said that the country should develop a long term branding and marketing plans in order to create brand and develop positive image of Nepal in the international markets.

Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohan Krishna Sapkota said that the success of the VNY 2020 would have direct positive impact on economic growth, employment opportunity and poverty alleviation.

He said that the government had been working to create impactful products and programmes for the tourism year.

Speaking on the occasion, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri suggested Nepal to focus on branding the country and its tourism products.

"Infrastructure development should be given utmost priority but branding is particularly important when you talk about tourism promotion. Nepal needs to create a 5-year strategy for branding itself as soon as possible," he said.

 "We did the same about one and a half decades ago while creating 'Incredible India' brand to promote our country. Nepal is a magical land but you need to promote it," he added.

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board Prachanda Man Shrestha said that transmission of information through the broadcast media, photo and audio/visual materials play an important role in tourism promotion.

Editor of the magazine Raja Ram Gyawali urged the government and tourism entrepreneurs to focus on small things as well.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 March 2019.