PARASI: The government of Province 5 has initiated development of a master plan for tourism promotion.

In this connection, discussions are being held with thematic experts, Investment Board and the federal government in a routine manner, shared province government’s Spokesperson and Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Baijanath Chaudhary.

At a district level face-to-face programme — part of the national campaign targeted for Nepal Tourism Year, 2020 — organised at Sunawal in western Nawalparasi, Minister Chaudhary said that the provincial government would formulate tourism master plan focused on tourism and agriculture which are the main pillars for prosperity.

He also informed that the provincial government has come up with a plan to operate electric tourist bus keeping in mind the Visit Year-2020. The electric tourist bus will come into operation in Lumbini Buddha Circuit from this year, he said, adding the government is also making preparation to run electric tourist bus on the routes of Swargadwari-Thakurdwara and Ramgram-Triveni after Bhairahawa-based Gautam Buddha International Airport comes into operation.

Chief District Officer of Western Nawalparasi, Devendra Lamichhane, during the programme stressed the need to make wider publicity of diverse cultures of the country to attract external tourists.

The government has announced to mark the year 2020 as Nepal Tourism Year with the target to bring in 2 million tourists.

“It is the responsibility of all sides to join hands to meet the national target,” said central chairperson of Federation of Tourism Journalists, Dhaniram Sharma. The Federation has put in place a national campaign in all 77 districts as part of its collaboration with the government for the same.

Likewise, Sunawal Municipality Mayor Bhim Bahadur Thapa said, the state has not given due priority to exploring and tapping the potentials of Nawalparasi as a tourism hub. He also informed that the local government is working to develop Sunawal as a tourism city.