Promotion of village tourism stressed

KATHMANDU, July 31

Speakers at a programme on Friday stressed the need to promote village tourism in order to attract more number of tourists and prolong their stay in Nepal.

At the programme organised to mark the 19th anniversary of Village Tourism Promotion Forum (VTOF) Nepal, speakers said the foreign tourists should be taken to villages, as they find the nature, culture and lifestyle wonderful there.

Presenting a working paper on ‘earthquake and challenges on village tourism’, Professor Prem Sharma said the mindless political leadership, immature journalism, city-centred enterprises, poor infrastructure and entrenched poverty were some of the reasons behind the hindrances in promoting village tourism.

Similarly, Secretary at Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Suresh Man Shrestha, said tourism entrepreneurs could work by not aligning to any political party. If the stay of the holiday enjoyers from India and Hong Kong was lengthened, it would help boost tourism in Nepal, he argued.

Chairman of Nepal Trekking Agents’ Association, Ramesh Dhamala, said historicity and originality could not be forgotten while reconstructing damaged historical and religious sites.

Administrative officer at Nepal Tourism Board, Ramesh Kumar Adhikari, said only cooperation between the government and private sector could invigorate tourism development.