Kathmandu, September 27:

The World Tourism Day was observed today with the theme “Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change”.

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami planted a sapling of Mulberry at Jalbinayak, Chobhar on the occasion.

Secretary of the ministry Leela Mani Poudyal and chief executive officer of the NTB, Prachanda Man Shrestha, also planted saplings.

The saplings were planted to encourage the people to conserve forests and mitigate the impact of climate change.

The ministry and NTB are setting up a Climate Neutral Planet Fund to mitigate the impact of climate change.

The programme was coordinated by Jalabinayaka Community Forest Users’ Group.

Meanwhile, marking the tourism day, members of the Trekking Agents’ Association of Nepal and Everest Summiteers’

Association (ESA) honoured 15 tourists, who arrived in Kathmandu on a Qatar Airways flight, the first flight to land at the Tribhuvan International Airport today.

Nepal Cycle Association organised a cycle rally in the capital. Forty cyclists took part in the rally that started from the Nepal Tourism Board office and went around Putalisadak, Thapathali, New Road and Basantapur.

Various cultural programmes were organised to mark the day in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares. A cultural festival was organised in Thamel.

The ESA, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, NTB and other organisations have declared the year 2011 as “Save the Everest-2011”.