HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

HAN Annual General Meeting
Govt to accord high priority to revive tourism, PM assures

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 21: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today said that the government has given a high priority to the tourism industry as it is a major source of foreign currency and the largest sector to generate employment.

"The government is fully committed to developing tourism products to attract more tourists and lengthen their stay in Nepal. It has recently opened more than 100 peaks for climbing and trekking to encourage tourists to visit the country," Premier Deuba said, while delivering his inaugural speech at the 35th Annual General Body Meeting of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) here today.

The theme of the meeting was "Prospects and Problems of the Tourism Development between Nepal and India."

He further said that many tourists visit Nepal to enjoy the beauty endowed with unparalleled natural bio-diversity, magnificent Himalayas and unique culture. "In spite of such a combination, Nepal has not been able to capitalise on it," he said.

Dwelling on the government’s policies, Deuba stated that the government encourages the public-private partnership to take initiative to develop the tourism industry and harness the country’s potentialities.

"The government has formed Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) with a greater participation of the private sector for the promotion of Nepal’s tourism effectively and aggressively. The public-private partnership is a must to enhance the country’s image abroad," he added.

He informed that the government has initiated a number of policies to reduce air-pollution and address other environmental problems.

He admitted that Nepal’s tourism was not doing well due to various reasons in the past two years. "The government is well aware of the fact that hotel occupancy has gone down substantially, and the hotel industry is facing a serious crisis while remaining in business. The government is committed to supporting this industry in all possible ways," he assured.

Calling the theme of the general meeting as ‘appropriate’, he said that the relation between Nepal and India goes back to centuries. "People of Nepal and India have been visiting each others’ countries as pilgrims, tourists, researchers and for medical purposes since time immemorial. So, the relation between the two countries is more of a sentimental nature than being merely as good neighbours," he said.

He also emphasized the need for Nepal and India to work together for the promotion of tourism in the region as well as in the international arena.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sarbadhan Rai said that the terrorist activities have adversely affected Nepal’s tourism industry.

Rai stressed on the need of cooperation and understanding between the government and private sector to promote tourism.

Delivering his keynote speech on the theme, Dr. I. P. Singh, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, said that despite a marked decline in the number of Indian visitors to Nepal since the last two years due to various reasons, more Indian visitors could visit this country in the future.

Dr. Singh said that the various unforeseen and tragic national and international events of the years 2000 and 2001 were the predominant causes behind such a drop in the number of Indian visitors to Nepal.

He expressed the hope that the scenic beauty, pilgrimage spots and the renowned warmth and hospitality of Nepalese people will continue to work their wonders to lure Indian families in the days to come. "Nepal has potentials to develop as the foremost tourist and conference centre in the entire region."

He further said that the cultural, linguistic and other similarities between the two countries coupled with exoticism and mystique of the Himalayas and the unique culture of the Kathmandu Valley would make Nepal at once a comfortable and exciting travel option for the Indian travelers.

"The figures for Indian tourists coming by land cannot be estimated accurately as we have an open border and there are no immigration statistics maintained at our land border posts," he said.

India is the largest tourism market for Nepal. Out of the total visitors visiting Nepal, the Indian visitors make up around one-third. Each year, around three million outbound Indian tourists visit different parts of the world. Of them, Nepal receives only about 150,000.

He expressed the view that the recent package developed by Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), which offers free sightseeing and accommodation to Indian tourists, will certainly attract considerable number of visitors from India. He said that the government’s efforts to disperse tourism activities across various parts of the country, outside the beaten track of Kathmandu-Pokhara-Chitwan, are sure to bear fruit.

He added that India is also looking towards streamlining procedural requirements for travel between the two countries," he added.

He also emphasized the need for Nepal and India to work towards promoting tourism jointly. "The two countries have to launch a joint struggle against elements destructive of the peace in our region which must be made safe and peaceful for an overall progress and development."

He also suggested that tour groups coming to India from other countries should be encouraged and facilitated to add at least a couple of destinations in Nepal to their itineraries and the same for the tour groups in Nepal.

Welcoming the participants, Narendra Bajracharya, President of HAN, said that the global tourism scenario has changed following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Bajracharya said that the number of Indian visitors to Nepal has decreased acutely for the last two years due to the royal incident, Maoist activities, frequent Nepal bandhs, hijacking of a jetliner of Indian Airline and subsequent suspension of its flights to Kathmandu.

"Imposition of rigorous procedures for air travelers from India, which includes requirement of passports or voters’ ID cards at the airport has not only made traveling to Nepal complicated for them but has also scared them away from traveling to Nepal," he said.

He asked the governments of Nepal and India to simplify the procedures so as to encourage the movement of visitors between the two countries.

"Indian visitors should also be awarded with the customs rebates and duty facilities as third country visitors," he said.

He also pointed out the need for Nepal and India to conduct marketing and promotional activities jointly in the international arena. "There are many spheres in tourism in which Nepal and India can work together to achieve our common goal in all possible levels but also should promote the two countries together in different fairs and marts. We should also aim for SAARC pavilion concept as far as possible to promote the entire region," he said.

He was of the opinion that the successful completion of the 11th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu has given a positive image to Nepal and its tourism industry.

On the occasion, Balbir S. Mayal, Vice-President of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), said that terrorism and tourism can never go together.

Prakash Shrestha, First Vice-President of HAN, delivered a vote of thanks.

The 35th Annual General Body Meeting of HAN has also unanimously elected a 21-member executive committee for the next two years under Narendra Bajracharya as President. Gautam Das Shrestha is the Immediate Past President. Likewise, Prakash Shrestha, Ajay R. Sthapit, Prashiddha Bahadur Panday and Shyam Sundar Lal Kakshapati have been elected First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

Similarly, other executive members include B. K. Shrestha, Suresh Lal Shrestha, Stefan Voogle, Samir Khanna, Binod Shankar Shrestha, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, Manjeshree Rana, Raj Kumar Shrestha, M. A. Lari, Govind Thapaliya, Palsang Gurung, Pasang Dorje Lama, Hari Gurung and Amar Man Shakya.

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