Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 22:

Indian journalists, who were on a familiarisation tour of Nepal, are expected to highlight the country’s positive aspects and promote Nepal in India. The weeklong tour, from April 15-22, was organised by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in association with the Hotel Yak and Yeti, Fishtail lodge, Club Himalaya, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Annapurna, Buddha Air, Cosmic Air and Shangri-la Hotel. The journalists visited Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, Pokhara and Chitwan as part of the tour. During a press meet organised here today, chief executive officer of NTB Tek Bahadur Dangi said, “Nepal is a safe destination and tourists haven’t been harmed.” But, he said the negative media hype had had a negative impact on the country’s image. Dangi added security checks at the Tribhuvan International Airport are for security reasons and not to cause tourists inconvenience. Editor of Mumbai’s Safari Plus, Shailendra Kesari, said he would carry the message of Nepal as a peaceful country. “Indian tourists, who were likely to visit Nepal this time of the year, are holidaying somewhere else, but I hope they will come to Nepal next season.”