NTB developing infrastructure for NTY 2011

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has said that it is engaged in developing necessary infrastructure to bring one million tourists in the country as set by Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011.

According to Prachanda Man Shrestha, CEO, NTB, the target of attracting one million tourists will be elusive if the significance of developing physical and other required infrastructure is overlooked.

"Considering this fact, we are looking for concentrated approach on the part of every stakeholder to ensure the success of the mega campaign. "Our planning is focused on ensuring every basic amenity to the visitors without any hassle," says Shrestha.

After a grand official launch of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 from the capital on February 26, the campaign is also being launched outside the Kathmandu valley in April.

The NTY 2011 will be launched from five different cities - Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa, Biratnagar, and Janakpur - from east to west.

It is simply imperative to make the people besides Kathmandu valley aware of the ambitious target set by the campaign, according to the NTY working committee.

The committee has also conducted survey at 10 different border points with an aim to facilitate the visitors not only for the tourism year but all the year round.

In conjunction with private sector, the NTB is also planning to for a one window at the different border points that will have facility of Immigration, Custom, Transportation Office, Food court, Nepali Handicraft Exhibition Centre and other facilities required for tourists visiting Nepal.

In order to smoothly deliver required facilities to the tourists visiting the country, the committee is also mulling to construct apartments along with the private sector.

Likewise, the committee in collaboration with concerned stakeholders is penciling strategies to promote Nepali tourism products and products in promising markets like India, China, America and other European countries.

The total contribution of tourism industry to the country's GDP currently stands at 2.5 percent. And, the NTB expects that NTY 2011 will be instrumental to increase this contribution to the level of 20 percent. nepalnews.com