KATHMANDU; After a mega launch of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 officially from the capital on February 26, the campaign is being launched outside the Kathmandu valley in April.

“The first launch outside

the valley will start either

from Pokhara or Nepalgunj,” said Dhruba Narayan Shrestha, coordinator of Tourism section at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and a member of NTY 2011 working committee.

The NTY 2011 will be launched from five different cities — Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, and Janakpur — from east to west, the NTY commitee has till date decided Shrestha said. “People besides Kathmandu valley are now very much aware about the ambitious national campaign that aims to attract one million tourists,” he said adding that “within April we will organise promotional programmes in Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar and Janakpur.”

“Similarly, a study has been conducted at 10 different border points, Shrestha said, “to facilitate the visitors not only for the tourism year but all the year round.” Nepal Tourism Board along with private sector will develop a one window at the border area. “We are planning for a one window at the different border points that will have facility of Immigration, Custom, Transportation Office, Food court, Nepali Handicraft Exhibition Centre and other facilities required for tourists as soon as they reach Nepal border,” he added. Till date the study has been conducted at the border in Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Kakarbhitta, Dhangadi, Pashupati Nagar, Janakpur and Nepalgunj. With the slogan ‘together for tourism’, all the political parties including Nepali Congress, CPN UML, UCPN Maoist, RPP committed not to call for any strike and bandhs during the year 2011.

Tourism being the largest industry in Nepal is the largest source of foreign exchange and revenue. Possessing eight out of the 10 highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a hotspot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers and people seeking adventure.

With the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal, Kathmandu’s economy is tourism centric used to contribute 3.8 per cent to the GDP in 1995-96. However, it has declined since then.