Kathmandu is the place that all tourists step on to Nepal’s land and the littered and garbage-filled Kathmandu is a thing to worry about. I would conduct a cleaning campaign in my locality so that it contributes to making Kathmandu clean. In addition to that, I think all of us students and youths, regardless of any political party, should work together to make the year 2011 a ‘strike-free’ year. Tourists directly suffer from bandhs as their visit schedule is disturbed.

— Saroj Simkhada

The government has declared 2011 as the tourism year. As citizen of Nepal, I think that there are several things we can do. Firstly, we should maintain peace in society. Everyone must live in harmony. Then we must promote our valuable culture. Lastly, we must respect our guests when they arrive and provide them all the services as far as possible. This will help to bring success in the step that the government has taken to develop our country.

— Sujan Shrestha

The tourism industry, undoubtedly has provided a lot of employment to our countrymen and has had a great hand in raising the living standard of our people. Hence, it’s great news that 2011 has been announced as Nepal Tourism Year. Of course, as a citizen of this country, I’d volunteer to advertise the different events that are going to be held. As I’m working in the tourism sector here in Lake Side, I’d do my best to satisfy tourists with excellent hospitality and heart melting services. I will not give them any chance to compalin. Let’s make sure that this time, we don’t lack in the services we provide and pre-requisites like good roads that were made during Visit Nepal 1998, should be focused on. Let’s work together from now on with enthusiasm and be united and give a warm welcome to our friends from far and abroad and make their stay here ‘as fantastic as possible’.

— Cool Cristofer,

Lake Side

Like China built the Birds’ Nest for the Olympics to represent the aesthetic value of their country, we too can build a certain structure providing a good impression among foreigners. Architecture reflects the development of our country. I think in the year 2011 to be successful, building an advance structure that represents modernism amidst traditional aspect of our country can be very helpful and impressive.

— Awan Kumar Shrestha, Khwopa Engineering College

It is the responsibility of the citizens to contribute what they can for the nation. Being a student, I can’t make big plans but at least I can be aware of environmental cleanliness. So guys, keep your surroundings clean and green. If you can’t clean your surroundings, then at least don’t dirty it.

— Sammy, Pokhara

College of Management

n It’s a matter of happiness for all Nepalis that 2011 has been declared as Nepal Tourism Year. Nepal is a country having immense natural beauty. We need to provide better accommodation, services and entertainment for guests. Everyone can contribute individually to make this campaign successful. First of all, I will make a committee of youths to help the tourists. Security and guidance is a major concern for them, so I would deploy these youths for better security and guidance so that tourists can enjoy their stay splendidly. I would also cooperate with the local administrative bodies to make the surroundings clean and attractive. I would arrange for a lot of activities in my locality to make people know about tourism and tourists and how to impress them. Nepal is rich in culture, we can easily attract tourists with our cultural performances. I would also see it to that entertaining programmes such as dances and plays are also held. I would also encourage visitors to buy Nepali handicraft. There are also a lot of historical places in Nepal about which they don’t know about, so I would make sure they come to know about such places and visit them.

— Nehal Asharaf

One can make a great difference by one’s small efforts. As a citizen, I am thinking about making the public aware about it. Foreigners think Nepal is a peaceful country but they are very disappointed to see the true picture once they get here. If we can maintain peace in the country, then it will be great. Our country has so much beauty, it doesn’t need to be decorated. So, what I would like to do in this campaign is maintain peace from my side.

Another thing is good behaviour. If we behave well with them and respect them, it will surely have a good impression on them. It will make them stay longer.

— Sudarsan Kandel

I will focus on promoting the campaign completely in the Nepali way. The obsolete belief ‘we should earn’ will not be applicable in my promotional activities. My first and foremost priority will be to provide them warm hospitality blended in the Nepali way and the comfort as long as they live in Nepal. In order to run an effective campaign, I will provide them food and lodging at reasonable price maintaining the quality of food and comfortable accommodation. I believe that we should not hide our drawbacks before them as they will visit Nepal not only to see the city and people living in the city as they will be here to visit wild Nepal. Our rich Hindu mythology teaches us that guests are Gods in disguise; therefore it’s our duty to give them full satisfaction with warm welcome and hospitality. Our efforts should be to impress them and make them feel that they feel like coming back again.

— Ranju Shrestha

As a citizen of my country, I think we all have a hand in bringing peace and stability in the country so that the tourists do not hesitate to visit Nepal, or be threatened by the political unrest and all the bandhs that may ruin their trip. So, a level of security should be maintained especially for the tourists, so that they don’t take along unpleasant memories home. Then, we all should see to it that we preserve our heritage sites that attract the tourists, and along with renovation and maintenance, pollution should be checked. Encroachment of these places should also be prevented. Next, I think it is all of our responsibility to make the tourists feel welcome. We should treat them not only politely but also sincerely because many a times, people are seen cheating foreigners, which leaves a very nasty impression on them.

— Rhea Gurung,

Maharajgunj

As a citizen and an Agriculture graduate I would promote Agroecotourism. Though it seems new to many of us, its practices and results have kissed success in many parts of world. Inviting the farmers and agriculture related people to visit our farmers for sharing of ideas and technology and establishing good co-ordination would definitely promote agri-growth here in Nepal. Apart from that, managing the ecologically important sites and enticing ecologists from all over the world would help our disintegrated environment to get managed to some extent.

— Deepesh Bista

There was a time when Nepalis were known as honest, humble, hospitable and generous people. But nowadays we have become self-centered and arrogant. Since Tourist Year 2011 is a national programme, to make it a success there is the need that every individual plays his/her role from their respective level. Good and generous behaviour can be a strong tool to win anyone’s mind and heart. As a citizen of this country it becomes my responsibility to show and represent myself in such a way that could give an impression to our foreign guests that we Nepalis may be poor financially but we are very rich in heart.

— Ambika Pandey