Minister Kirati urges NTB to effectively promote tourism

KATHMANDU, Feb 11: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)organized a welcome program at the Tourism Board to welcome the newly appointed Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kiranti. Board Chairman and Ministry Secretary Suresh Adhikari and Board Executive Director Dr. Dhananjay Regmi welcomed Minister Sudan Kiranti in the program.

Speaking at the program, Minister Kiranti said that even though there is a wide potential of tourism in Nepal, it is not getting proper benefits from it and said that the journey of economic prosperity can be determined through tourism. He stated that the ministry is ready for necessary policy reforms for the development of the tourism sector and urged the board to carry out tourism promotion activities in an effective manner. Minister Kiranti said that the work of policy reform has already started and the ministry will continue to cooperate with everyone for creative work.

Secretary of the Ministry and Chairman of the Board, Suresh Adhikari said that restructuring of the Board is necessary in terms of policies, budgets and programs and emphasized that now a corresponding law should be brought.

Chandra RiJal, vice president of the board, asked the Minister of Tourism to act as a guardian of the tourism industry and said that the private sector has always been there for tourism.

Shreejana Rana, president of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), demanded that the tourism industry be recognized like other industries and said that the state should bring appropriate policies and programs to get proper benefits from tourism. 

The Chief Executive Officer of the NTB, Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, demanded policy clarity and emphasis on a unified system for the development of tourism in Nepal and informed about the activities and programs of the tourism board. 

In the program, Laxman Gautam, acting market director of the NTB, informed about the work being done by the board for tourism promotion and said that the board has been working as a bridge to the private sector.