Tourism fuels economy

Nepal enters 2024 with encouraging message from tourism sector: the adverse impact of COVID 19 is over; over a million tourists visited Nepal in 2023 as per the official target of the year; the economy particularly employment sector ranging from the five star hotel to home-stay in rural areas gets the fuel needed. If the trend could be sustained in the next 12 months Nepali economy would get long awaited relief. Although tourism has in different times in the past demonstrated that it could be a reliable pillar to support the country’s economy, it could not counter the attack of the virus after 2019. The country should now work out a strategy to boost tourism in different parts of the country. The area of domestic tourism should not be sidelined in the process. The maximum use of the international airports of Pokhara and Bhairahawa should also be emphasized. Efforts should be made for Nepali airlines to benefit from the expanding tourism. Serious work should be undertaken for making it possible for Nepali airlines to fly to and from Europe, one of the most promising source for Nepali tourism. Nepal has tourism expertise but it has not been able to benefit from it. Policy makers and tourism infrastructure builders should put their heads together to make the next decade a prosperous decade for Nepali tourism sector. Innovative ways of promoting fresh destinations and reliable and fresh marketing techniques should be developed to have the maximum benefit possible from the sector. Quality tourism and sustainable mode of promoting tourism in various provinces of the country should be developed. For this a comprehensive approach from both the government and private sector should be promoted. Peace should prevail in the country in order not to make tourists fear or worry about visits and stay; comfortable transport and affordable hotels should be guaranteed and information about the same should be made easily available in the foreign cities where opening point of Nepal tourism is located. Nepali embassies abroad have not yet been able to contribute actively to promotion of tourism through appropriate economic diplomacy. The same could be another front in which Nepali diplomats could be actively engaged in the next few years. If the country gets substantial earning from tourism it will add to the economic strength. It will also provide the country with an alternative to dependence of remittance. In modern times it is highly essential to have multiple sources of income for running the economy in an optimistic tone. Tourism has once again emerged in Nepal for realizing that particular goal. In the meanwhile, care should be taken to preserve Nepali culture, Nepali way of hospitality and the great Nepali heritage from any adverse impact of tourism.