Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 22:

Lack of awareness concerning Nepal’s situation and the country’s negative image abroad has resulted in a sharp decline in tourist arrivals, tourism pundits said. They also pointed out the need to promote positive aspects of tourism in Nepal. “Lack of aggressive promotion of positive aspects of tourism in Nepal has resulted in declining number of tourist arrivals,” said Tek Bahadur Dangi, the chief executive officer at the Nepal Tourism Board. Numerous surveys, however, have shown that tourists visiting the country feel considerably safe, he said while speaking at a press conference organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation here today. According to him Nepal can not spend a lot of money on advertisements in the international media to promote the country as a tourist destination. He said the NTB spent Rs 160,000 to participate in the recent ITB fair in Berlin, Germany which is a fairly large amount for Nepal.