In an attempt to welcome 2 million tourists by 2020, Nepal Tourism has recently launched the ‘Visit Nepal Year 2020’ campaign in New Delhi. The campaign aims to position Nepal as one of the world’s most unique experiential and lifetime value destination.
The launch event was well attended by the travel fraternity as well as senior functionaries of Nepal Tourism and Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India. Among the dignitaries gracing the event with their presence were Suraj Vaidya, National Convenor, Visit Nepal Year 2020; Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Nepal Tourism Board and Suman Billa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India
The campaign will act as catalyst to achieving the government agenda to recognise and accelerate the development of the high potential of the tourism industry in the years to come even as the government creates ease at doing business for investors and stakeholders with incentives and subsidy provisions, supportive policies, political stability and sound governance. It is prioritising investment in infrastructure, promoting the industry’s sustainability and ensuring systematic development of new and creative business models adapting to technology and how the world travels today.
Meanwhile, the Government of Nepal is fervently working towards infrastructural development in the country to support the ever-growing tourist arrivals. By 2020, it plans to operate two new international airports as well, one in Pokhara and another in Lumbini, and introduce the Airbus 330-200 to provide airline services to the growing number of tourists. The government also plans to operate Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for an additional three hours from the regular 18, to ensure continued availability of service to both incoming and outgoing tourists.
On the hospitality infrastructure front, Nepal is also set to add 4000 rooms in the four and five-star categories, in Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara. A number of international hotel chains, including Hilton and Marriott, are expected to operate properties in Nepal in the coming years.
Nepal currently receives 200,000 Indian visitors who reach there by air in a year and aims to witness 25 per cent annual growth, Joshi said.
In 2018, Nepal received 1,173,072 international tourists excluding overland travellers. The lop arrivals were from India, China, Sri Lanka, USA and UK. Average length at stay is 12.6 days and per day expenditure amounts to $54. In 2018, share of FDI in tourism was 11.47% at As 23,855.50 million.
