Kathmandu, February 18:

An interaction on ‘Women mainstreaming in Tourism’ was organised in Pokhara today to highlight the role of women in the tourism industry while commemorating the coming Women’s Day.

Women from Kaski, Gorkha and Lamjung districts participated in the interaction organised by Nepal tourism Board (NTB). On the occasion, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami said that women are the mainstay of tourism industry in Nepal and that their role should be redefined in the new Nepal.

“Involvement of women in tourism will create sustainability in the sector and there should be good coordination among established and new women tourism entrepreneurs in order to exchange ideas and experience and increase the participation of women,” she said adding that effort were on to place tourism in Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

“History has given women an opportunity to improve their status and the tourism industry

is where there is good opportunity for them. They should not miss it,” she said.

Ambika Shrestha, senior woman tourism entrepreneurs and managing director of Hotel Dwarika’s, in her address, said that women must not ask for reservation but for equal rights and opportunities. Sharing her four decade-long experience in tourism, she said women

have now become successful in many areas. Shrestha urged the participants to be

employers in the tourism business, not employees.

Lucky Chettri of Three Sisters Adventure Trekking said that there still was exploitation of women in tourism sector but tourism could become a tool for their poverty alleviation.

She said women do not need sympathy, they need education and opportunity. Another

paper presenter, Jagan Gurung of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) shared

her two-decade long experience in ACAP saying that women are still not the owner of

tourism business despite their hard work in running tea shops and lodge houses.

Brinda Hada, Secretary of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare said only 25 per cent of promises of women’s development was implemented.

NTB board member Agni Kandel and president of Pokhara Tourism Council Bacchu Ram Tiwari also highlighted the role of women in tourism.