Tourism sector pillar of economic prosperity: Tourism Minister Kirati

BIRATNAGAR, Feb 14: Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kiranti has said that the tourism sector is the pillar of the country's economic prosperity. Laying the foundation stone of the new terminal building at Biratnagar Airport on Monday, he said that a lot of foreign currency can be earned from the tourism sector even with a small investment.

Minister Kirati said that the expansion of new buildings and runways has been started based on the sentiments of the general public, the suggestions of stakeholders and the needs here. 
Nagesh Koirala, Mayor of the Biratnagar Metropolitan Municipality, emphasized on the importance of taking in the Indian tourists to fly from Biratnagar to view the Himalayas.

Pradeep Adhikari,  Director General of Civil Aviation Authority  of Nepal (CAAN)  Deputy Director General Hansraj Pandey, hotelier Rajan Shrestha and industrialist Rajendra Khanal emphasized that air flights should be operated from here to 14 airports in the province.

The terminal building, which will spread over a total area of 16,277 square meters, will be constructed at a cost of 2.42 billion. Rinji Sherpa, chief  of Biratnagar Airport, informed that the runway is being expanded in view of the increase in air passenger traffic in the future.