'Identify more tourist destinations for NTY 2011'

Tourism experts have pointed out the need for identifying and developing infrastructure in potential tourist destinations in some 50 districts across the country.

While speaking at an interaction program on "NTY-2011 and Our Responsibility" held in the capital on Friday, they forwarded the proposition to this effect.

They also opined that improvement in the management of the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) as well as upgrading the environment of the capital city as some of the prime requisites to ensure success of the NTY 2011.

Nagendra Prasad Ghimire, secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, said that gradual increment in air services is one of the promising ways to attract more tourists in the country.

"There must be concentrated efforts to enhance the country's image, which had been affected by decade-long conflict and other political anomalies, in the global tourism arena," he added.

Yogendra Sakya, coordinator of the committee formed for NTY-2011, said four factors- capacity building, accommodation, transportation, and promotion- are being prioritized to smoothly accomplish the target of the mega campaign which aims to attract 1 million tourists in the country.

"The air service should be capable enough to cater to some 700 thousand tourists while the 300 thousand need hassle-free transportation access," he added.

Ang Chiring Sherpa, president, Nepal Mountaineering Association, urged for a special package to facilitate those tourists opting for mountaineering. nepalnews.com