A strategic action plan is being prepared to promote domestic tourism

 

KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Nepal Tourism Board, Sustainable Tourism Project for Livelihood Revival (STLRP) is going to make a strategic action plan to promote domestic tourism in Nepal.

For the creation of an action plan (STLRP) has also organized a workshop between various provincial ministries, municipalities and tourism-related agencies with the participation of experts.

Mani Raj, National Program Coordinator of the project, will create a strategic action plan for domestic tourism through an in-depth discussion on the current status of domestic tourism, the exploration and analysis of gaps in the existing policies that hinder the promotion of domestic tourism, the current policy needs, the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government for the promotion of domestic tourism, etc. Lamichhane informed.

According to which, in the first phase, the board is going to prepare an action plan in collaboration with Lumbini and Far Western Province Ministry of Tourism, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), and various municipalities and other stakeholders related to tourism.

He said that in the workshop organized in the province, experts and stakeholders emphasized on clear tourism-friendly policies, one-door system in tourism, 24-hour operation system for tourism business and enhancement of manpower capacity should be prioritized. He said that on the occasion of the workshop, businessmen should encourage local food and housing programs.

In the workshop held in Lumbini, the stakeholders stated that a strategy for the promotion of domestic tourism is necessary and stressed that short-term, medium-term and long-term plans should be formulated for the promotion of domestic tourism, Lamichhane said.

He said that in the workshop held in Dhangadhi in the Far West, there is a huge potential for domestic tourism in Nepal, so a separate strategy and solid plan should be made for its promotion.

In collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and the United Nations Development Program, workers in the tourism sector who have lost employment and income-earning opportunities due to the crisis of Covid-19 will get short-term employment opportunities and employment for tourism entrepreneurs and workers through the promotion and development of tourism assets of major tourist destinations. Lamichhane says that sustainable tourism projects have been launched to revive livelihoods with the aim of increasing income opportunities.

In this context, the project is going to create an internal tourism strategic action plan in order to be able to deal with disasters and challenges in the coming days after assessing the impact of the Covid-19 on tourism professionals and human resources, said Dharma Dawadi, the livelihood expert of the project.