KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 27
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, has said the procurement process of aircraft for the national flag-carrier Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has reached final stage.
Addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the 44th World Tourism Day today, Minister Kirati said the decision has been made to expand NAC's fleet to promote tourist arrivals in the country.
He also assured of transparency and no irregularities in the procurement of the required aircraft.
The NAC is preparing to purchase three Twin-otters through its internal resources to expand services across the country. At present, the NAC has two Twin-otters for domestic services and two wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft for international operations.
Minister Kirati also stressed the need to revise development policies to make them more cultural and nature-friendly.
"Nepal has a high potential in establishing itself as one of the top tourist destinations in the world due to its nature, diverse geography, mountain ranges, culture, and civilisation," he said, adding that tourism laws and acts should be revised in a way that they could enable such an atmosphere.
He also said that Nepal's tourism industry is on the path of recovery after COVID-19 pandemic and that tourist arrivals are expected to rise in the coming days.
He opined that tourists could be encouraged to prolong their stay in Nepal through the fusion of culture, nature, and adventure with tourism.
Meanwhile, Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, deputy mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, emphasised the idea of promoting culture, heritages, and tourism simultaneously and pursuing a goal of economic prosperity through eco-friendly tourism development.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Vice-Chairman Chandra Prasad Rijal insisted on the need to strengthen the public-private partnerships in the tourism industry.
On the occasion, various organisations, mountaineers, and individuals were honoured in recognition of their contribution to the tourism sector.
At the same event, the minister unveiled a map highlighting touristic areas within the Lalitpur metropolis.
The government and tourism organisations celebrated World Tourism Day under the theme of 'Tourism and Green Investment'.
The Seven Summit Treks, Sita World Travel Pvt Ltd, Everest Hospitality and Hotel, Pokhara Astra, Nepal Airlines Corporation, Lumbini's Green Resort, Nawalparasi-based Amaltari Homestay were also honoured on the occasion for their initiatives in tourism promotion and development of the country.
Likewise, Norwegian climber Kristin Harila and Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa who create a mountaineering history by climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in 92 days were honoured.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 28, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
