On the occasion, professional chefs, and other professionals, carried out candlelight vigil to celebrate the day.Â
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 27
At a time with the tourism industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, culinary chefs marked the 42nd World Tourism Day in Kathmandu with much optimism, with hopes of things settling back to normal in coming days.
On the occasion, professional chefs and others carried out a candlelight vigil to celebrate the day.
Govinda Bahadur KC, former chairperson of Chefs Association of Nepal (CAN), expressed optimism that the tourism industry would revive slowly with the easing of lockdown in the country. "United we stand divided we fall," KC quipped while urging all the chefs to work together for the betterment of industry rather than focusing on personal gains.
KC further said the government must provide support from all levels to the hospitality sector to help them to sustain during these testing times.
Referring to the government decision to grant on-arrival visa to foreigners, Khadak Bikram Lama, the incumbent chairperson of CAN, said it was the right time to promote the variety of ethnic foods of Nepal to the visitors.
It would be icing on the cake if we could offer our wide variety of culinary delights from the Himalayas, Hilly and Terai region to our guests so as to promote our food, culture, and heritage locally and internationally.
The event was co-organised by the Gastronomy Tourism Association of Nepal and Cocina Mitho Chha with the theme 'Billions of Light for Tourism' to mark the International Tourism Day.
The programme was moderated by prominent chef Suresh Chandra Basnet, who is also initiating the 'Gastronomie Tour De Nepal' to promote Nepali cuisine worldwide.
