“Declare tourism a national industry in Nepal “: NATO
By TBN reporter-
Kathmandu : Leaders of the travel business community have requested the government to declare tourism as a national industry and address problems of tour operators in the country.
With the theme of Buddhist Circuit Tourism, the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Nepal Association of Tour Operators ( NATO)discussed different issues of travel and tourism here on August 31.
On the occasion, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture ,Tourism and Civil Aviation Yajna Prasad Gautam said that the ministry is committed in expanding the fleet of Nepal Airlines Corporation ( NAC) ,realizing the need of a strong carrier for overall development of tourism .
NATO President Ashok Pokharel threw light on burning problems of travel and tourism sector and requested the government to solve the problems as earliest as possible.
Pokharel ,requesting the government to renew contracts with the hotels and resorts inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP),said that the government’s failure to renew the contracts could have an adverse impact on the country’s tourism industry as a whole.
General Secretary of NATO Shibesh Shrestha urged the government to strengthen national flag carrier and emphasized to focus on the growing Chinese tourism market.
Vice President nominee of NATO and Managing Director of Himalayan Expeditions.com presented paper on Buddhist Circuit Tourism and said that integrated efforts should be made to attract tourists from Thailand, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
On the occasion ,a CD presentation on Experience China was screened with the courtesy of China National Tourist Office ( CNTO)in Kathmandu.
Earlier, President of NATO Ashok Pokharel ,presenting a report at the close session, shed light on various activities carried out by the association during the FY 2011/12.
Similarly General Secretary Shibesh Shrestha presented a progress report of the FY 2011,12 and proposed various programmes for the FY 2012/13.
Similarly , treasurer of NATO B.B. Malla proposed a budget for the fiscal year 2012/13.
NATO 2nd Vice President Yadav Khanal extended a vote of thanks to all the members for their active participation in the meeting.
Ever since its inception in 1998 as a professional set-up of destination management companies operating in Nepal,NATO is actively involved in undertaking various initiatives to better promote the tourism of the country.
