Kathmandu, August 31:

Tourism sector has the potential of speeding up growth within a short span of time in comparison to other sectors like hydropower that take longer periods to yield results.

“Within two years, tourism sector can help increase the GDP as it brings a spiral effect,” Prassidha Bahadur Pandey, newly-elected president of Hotels’ Association of Nepal (HAN) said on the sidelines of HAN’s 39th annual general meeting here today.

“The government should bring in a Tourism Act,” Pandey said adding that it should also immediately announce ‘Visit Nepal Year 2010’. Once the Visit Nepal campaign is launched, the sector will feel encouraged and tourist arrivals would increase to more than a million,” he said.

Hotels had been worst hit during the insurgency and some of them are still closed also due to heavy expenses on staff.

Delivering the keynote address, Finance minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai said tourism was one of the priority sectors for the new government.

The HAN AGM was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.

Outgoing president Prakash Shrestha thanked all for their support.