Kathmandu, November 12:

A team of Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), while welcoming Prachanda Man Shrestha, newly-appointed CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) suggested that the board should be more active, vibrant and focus its activities according to the true spirit of public-private partnership.

NATO also suggested him to change marketing strategy of NTB according to changing times. “Fix country-wise tourists arrival target beforehand,” NATO suggested.

Speaking on the occasion, Basant Raj Mishra, president of NATO said that the tourism board must move ahead with a concrete plan to lure at least a million tourists by 2010. “NTB should unveil a policy to work towards developing joint products, marketing strategy with all the players in the industry to extend tourists’ stay in Nepal,” he said adding that evaluation of NTB’s past performance is a must to find out whether it has been able to meet its goals or not.

“Extortion from both entrepreneurs and tourists have presented negative image of Nepal in overseas market,” NATO said adding that NTB should lobby against it.

While more airlines are flying to Nepal, capacity of the International Airport should be enhanced to accommodate rising number of travellers.