Nepal and Switzerland government have reached an agreement to launch a tourism development project based on trail

KATHMANDU, May 11:The Government of Nepal and the Government of Switzerland have signed a bilateral agreement to start the Trail-based Tourism Development Project (TTDP).

Shree Krishna Nepal, joint-secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Dr Danielle Meuwly, Ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal, signed the agreement on Nepal's behalf at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

During the agreement, Joint Secretary Shree Krishna Nepal stated that the purpose was to promote local economic growth and sustainable tourism by improving the beautiful route in the eastern region. He stated that the project will be implemented over the following four years with the help of a 9.01 million dollar grant from the Swiss government.

Nepal has also stated that it will make a combined investment of 16 million in the project. He stated that the project will create approximately 2000 local jobs. During the construction of the trail, almost 500,000 people will be employed cash-for-work.

The trails are projected to attract approximately 80,000 visitors per year, including domestic tourists from the region, thus promoting local communities and preserving the region's rich cultural heritage.