Govt plans to double tourism earnings by 2023

KATHMANDU:

The government has aimed to double total earning from tourism industry within 2023 by focusing on the aviation sector and the overall development of tourism sector.

In 2012, total contribution of the tourism industry to the national gross domestic product (GDP) was around 4.3 per cent with total earnings of Rs 67.2 billion.

“We have a target to increase the contribution of the tourism industry to Rs 112.3 billion by 2023,” said secretary at the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation (MoCTCA) Sushil Ghimire.

Addressing a programme on ‘Tourism and Aviation Next 2013 Action Plan for Premium Nepal Tourism’, today, he said that the total earning from the tourism industry alone can be doubled by 2023 if special focus is given to reform programmes of the national flag carrier and upgradation of the existing international airport of the country.

Ghimire also said that tourism entrepreneurs should focus on affordability of tourists and their length of stay. According to him, around 80 per cent of the tourists arrive by air and they pay around 70 per cent of their total travel budget for the purpose.

“We should give special attention to improving the aviation infrastructure through public-private partnership,” he said.

Speaking at the programme, Amitabh Kant a member of the Indian Administrative Service, and chief executive officer and managing director of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation said that Nepal has its own unique features but the country should have a high value strategy.

“The country should increase the value of its products and should also focus on increasing employment generation through tourism,” Kant said. According to him, the Nepali tourism sector should take the challenge of creating job opportunities through tourism.

Kant also shared his experiences about various strategies of the Indian government in developing India as one of the most sought after tourism destinations.

The programme also focused on the rise of the aviation sector in Nepal, the status today in value and volumes, challenges faced, and ways and means of increasing passenger load, service quality, technological innovations and a sustainable business model.

Source: THT