China’s Tibet, Nepal to promote tourism cooperation
Lhasa : A promotion fair for the tourism of Nepal was held on July 11 in Lhasa, capital of southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region.Hosted by the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa, co-organized by the Tourism Bureau and Foreign Affair Office of Tibet Autonomous Region, this promotion event is the fourth of its kind.
The Nepalese embassy introduces the tourist cooperation between China and Nepal on the promotion fair themed “2012 Lumbini Tourism Year”.
Hari Prasad Bashyal, Consul General of Nepal Consulate in Lhasa said the advantaged geographical position, comparatively lower cost and friendly bilateral relationship has contributed to an increasing number of Chinese tourists to travel in Nepal.
Since July 15, 2011, the Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa has issued more than 20,000 visas for Chinese tourists, up 60 percent year on year.
The consulate also simplified the visa-application process for Chinese tourists, enabling them to get visa within one working day, added Hari Prasad Bashyal.
Chinese official stressed the importance of Sino-Nepal cooperation in tourism, referring to Nepal as a major tourist destination of Chinese, and Lhasa a transition center for Chinese tourists to Nepal.
Tibet will help Nepal’s tourism by carrying on “Winter Tourism Campaign” and developing Himalaya tourism to attract more tourists to Nepal, according to Wang Songping, official of the Tibetan Tourism Bureau.
The year 2012 is “2012 Lumbini Tourism Year” in Nepal, to build Lumbini, the birth-place of Gautama Buddha, into an international tourist destination. -China Tibet Online
