Kathmandu, December 21:

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat has stressed on a need to involve private sector to manage ailing Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) and Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA), the only international airport.

Lauding private sector’s role in building tourism products and promoting Nepal as a premier holiday destination, he said that government-run public enterprises are incurring huge losses mainly due to unprofessional management.

“Time has come now to induct private and skilful management to operate national carrier and airports,” he said.

Dr Mahat, addressing a programme organised to mark the 10th anniversary of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), today, urg-ed to consolidate gains of touris-m boom and expand it further to reach the grassroots levels.

“Nepal has every potential to provide various tourism products and services suiting various types of tourists. In fact, Nepal is a tourism capital of South Asia and Kathmandu is a heaven for food connoisseur,” he said.

Contemplating current boom in tourist arrivals, he further reckoned that days ahead for tourism industry look bright and urged the diplomatic missions based in Kathmandu to disseminate ‘true message’ on security situation through their travel advisories.

Prithvi Subba Gurung, minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, also urged the Kathmandu-based diplomats to travel around the country and explore Nepal’s rich cultural and natural diversities.

“I request all diplomat communities to feel the potentials Nepal can offer and disseminate positive messages outside the world,” he added.

He informed that new initiatives at policy making level and in regards to infrastructure development are underway to cater growing tourism prospects. Gurung also informed that government is exercising to launch a promotional campaign like Visit Nepal Year or something similar.

“It will be formally announced after serious discussion with stakeholders,” he added.

Taking into consideration of growing tourism prospects, Lila Mani Paudel, secretary at the Tourism Ministry and chairman of NTB, said that government is bringing new policies to ensure a wider role of private sector. He further added that the government is making necessary arrangements for the airlines to connect European cities.

Prachanda Man Shrestha, CEO at the NTB, urged the government to declare tourism as a national priority in its socio-economic agenda.

Explaining successes achieved and challenges faced by the industry, Shrestha said that new areas and tourism products introduced in recent times have helped to bring the marginalised people into the mainstream of the industry and supported their livelihood.