Improvement in visa process and immigration will encourage tourists

Minister Yogesh Bhattarai

Kathmandu: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that the improvement in the visa process and immigration will encourage tourists to visit Nepal.

Addressing a program organized by the NGO Federation of Nepal in Kathmandu Tuesday, Minister Bhattarai stressed that all rural villages of Nepal have the potential to be tourist destinations.

He called upon the members of the NGO Federation to proactively promote tourism, saying, “NGOs have a crucial role to play in promoting tourism in the country.”

Minister Bhattarai also opined that the government’s single efforts to bring two million tourists will not be sufficient. So, all NGOs should support in achieving the national goal of Visit Nepal Year 2020.

He also vowed to take remedial measures to cement any policy level lapses that may be barriers on the way to promote the tourism sector in the country.

Informing that the tourism ministers of at least 40 foreign countries have been invited to participate at the inaugural ceremony of the Visit Year, he also urged all to extend their helping hands towards the government’s ongoing efforts to construct public toilets.

The minister also added the tourism sector could work for agro and eco-tourism too. Present on the occasion were NGO Federation chair Jitman Tamang and Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Joshi.