The Nepal Tourism Decade Strategic Action Plan is ready, govt says

The ‘Nepal Tourism Decase (2023-2033) Strategic Action Plan’ has been prepared with a target to bring 3.5 million foreign tourists till 2032 and adding employment opportunities for one million people in the tourism sector during the decade.

The taskforce –five members team under the coordination of tourism expert Prachanda Man Shrestha- formed to prepare the roadmap of the strategic work plan has submitted a report to the Tourism Minister Thursday.

Tourism minister Jeevan Ram Shrestha said the concept of tourism decade was bought for the revival of the tourism sector which has been adversely affected by COVID pandemic while briefing about the action plan at a programme organized at eh Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The government has also set the goal to make tourism sectors’ contribution in country’s gross domestic product to 10 per cent. As per the action plan, province and national-level campaigns would be launched for tourism promotion across the country by making institutional strengthening, upgrading of infrastructures, investment and tourism promotion, diversification and revival of tourism.

The Tourism Minister further shared that they would move ahead by establishing a smooth coordination among three-level governments for effective implementation of tourism decade action plan. It is necessary to move ahead by developing infrastructures and creating tourism-friendly environment to meet the target, he underscored.

Some of the programmes as scheduled by the action plan include a thematic campaign of cultural heritage of Bagmati Province will be launched in 2024, while Gandaki Province will be in focus in 2025 and a nationwide campaign in 2026.

Similarly, Buddhist tourism will be promoted in 2027, Madhesh tourism in 2028, and Sudurpaschim tourism in 2028. The tourism promotion will focus on Province No 1 in 2030 and Karnali Province in 2031.

Ultimately, in 2033, a nationwide tourism promotion will be enforced.