NTB CEO points out poor road condition, aviation security as major challenges to Visit Nepal 2020

KATHMANDU, Sept 6: Chief Executive of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi has pointed out poor road condition and security environment as two major challenges to the forthcoming Visit Nepal 2020. 

Participating in a meeting of Parliamentary Committee on Development and Technology on Friday, CEO Joshi said that foreign tourists are highly concerned about both the poor road connectivity and aviation security in Nepal. “As we lack good roads to major tourist destinations, it may have an adverse impact to the celebrations of Visit Nepal 2020," he said.

The committee members inquired how the government would be able to meet its target of attracting two million tourists as the country lacks required infrastructure connectivity for the same.

“We can imagine the poor road condition outside the capital if the roads in Kathmandu are almost impassable in some particular places including Chabahil-Jorpati section,” said another member Indu Sharma. 

Speaking at the meeting, another member Bahadur Singh Lama suspected on the success of the campaign as the concerned authority has failed to inform about the progress made on infrastructure and preparation of the Visit Nepal 2020.

Answering the questions raised by the committee members regarding road up-gradation, Secretary of Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Devendra Karki insisted that roads are not as bad as the lawmakers said. 

"Although we have problems with the roads inside the valley, roadways out of the valley don’t have such difficulties," Karki admitted.

The lawmakers drew the attention of the ministry over the poor condition of Lamjung-Beshisahar-Chame road section, Beni-Mustang road, Surkhet-Achham-Ramaroshan section, Karnali Highway, Kodari Highway, Rasuwa-Syafru road.

The committee members held discussions on road-transportation with the secretary of the ministry.