Kathmandu, January 25:

The government has decided to provide free visa to all those coming for the second time to Nepal in order to make the Nepal Tourism Year 2011 (NTY 2011) a grand success.

Speaking during the first NTY 2011 promotional programme here today, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) Hisila Yami said that the government is focusing on improving infrastructure like hotels and the airport to provide facilities to the tourists.

NTY 2011 has set a target of one million tourists and to provide facilties, additional investment in tourism infrastructure is needed.

“Various infrastructure developments will be done within Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA),” she assured. “With the infrastructural development, discounts will be granted for landing and parking during the peak hours. Ground Support Equipment Parking Area extension will also be made. To make passenger check-in easy and quick, Common Users Terminal (CUTE) system will be implemented,” said Yami.

The main objective of the campaign is to establish Nepal as a prime holiday destination with a definite brand image, improve and extend tourism related infrastructure in existing and new tourism sites. The idea is also to enhance the capacity of service renderers and build community capacity in new areas to cater to the needs of tourists and promote domestic tourism for sustainability of the tourism industry.

Considering the magnitude of the campaign, the government has formed the main organising committee under the convenership of vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission as the joint convener. The secretaries of different ministries, the chief of Metropolitan City, those of sub-metropolitan cities and the municipalities, presidents of travel trade and other related associations and institutions have been nominated as the committee members.

The executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has been designated member-secretary of the committee.

In order to prepare specific strategies and programmes, a sub-committee of 14 members and regional sub-committees have also been formed. NTB has been entrusted with functioning as the secretariat of the NTY 2011 campaign.

With the stable political situation in the country, the government hopes to bring into at least one million international tourists in Nepal by the year 2011 and spread the direct and indirect benefits of tourism to the people in general.