Kathmandu, August 29 :

The Second BIMSTEC tourism ministers’ roundtable meet concluded here today after the signing of a Kathmandu Declaration and adopting a 14 points Plan of Action.

According to the Plan of Action, member countries agreed on the formation of BIMSTEC Tourism Information Centre and BIMSTEC Tourism Fund, development of tour packages (for two or more countries) including a Buddhist circuit, eco-tourism, adventure-tourism and MICE tourism products.

They also agreed to organise FAM trips for journalists/tour operators, facilitate travel within BIMSTEC countries, student exchanges and parity in entrance fee at archaeological sites. The meeting also agreed on extending accessibility by air, land and water; promotion of joint investments, human resource development, crisis management, support from development partners and formation of BIMSTEC Tourism Working Group.

The meeting authorised Nepal to prepare the terms of reference for the establishment of BIMSTEC Tourism Entrepreneurs Private Sector Forum and BIMSTEC Media Forum of Tourism Journalists for effective participation by private stakeholders in tourism development as well as promotion of the region.

Earlier today, addressing the meeting, Subash Chandra Nembang, speaker of the House of Representatives underscored the need for forging common understanding and mutual cooperation to exploit the immense potentials of tourism in the region. He said that the ministerial roundtable would be able to simplify intra-regional movement, changing the existing visa regime.

Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, said that BIMSTEC has rightly identified tourism as a driving force to trigger fast overall development of the countries around the Bay of Bengal.

Stating that Nepal should learn from experience of other countries, he said, “Tourism has stood as a trouble-shooter to address a multitude of problems associated with poverty. So, if good networks and experiences are shared, a new course would open up in this region too.”

Attending ministers from the BIMSTEC region agreed upon the prospect of tourism in the region, which if collectively harnessed, could create ample opportunities to alleviate the burgeoning poverty in the region.

They also agreed that tourism promotion and development in this region should be expeditiously carried out. They also agreed to promote the region as a tourism hub, incorporating various gamut of tourism activities including meeting incentive convention and exhibition (MICE).

The meeting which ended today has BIMSTEC Tourism Working Group consisting of representatives of national tourism organisations and private stakeholders of tourism industry from all member countries to decide on the programme priorities, expenditure of BIMSTEC Tourism Fund, preparation of concrete proposals to be sent to BIMSTEC Working Group in Bangkok and ADB and to follow up the progress on the plan of action.

The meeting also decided to host the third BIMSTEC Tourism Ministers’ Roundtable in November next year in Bangladesh.

The senior foreign delegates in the meeting were Ambika Soni, minister of tourism and culture, India, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, state minister of civil aviation and tourism, Bangladesh, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, minister of trade and industry, Bhutan, Aye Myint Kyu, vice-minister of hotels and tourism, Myanmar, Sumith Nakandala, ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal and Sakthip Krairiksh, permanent secretary of tourism and sports, Thailand.