Speaking at a workshop organized by the Development Committee of legislature-parliament in Pokhara, they said all entrepreneurs should unite and promote tourism by spreading positive message about the country.
Andrew Jones, vice president of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said Nepal should launch promotional campaigns to invite tourists in areas that are untouched by the earthquake" "Preparation is underway to certify by international experts that trekking trails are safe. Nepal should not worry as many countries tourists took back their citizens from Nepal after the earthquake," he said, adding: "Tourists will come back soon and trekking will definitely resum"."
PATA submitted its study report and suggested recovery plans to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kripasur Sherpa on Monday.
Crisis Management Expert of PATA Bert Van Walbeek suggested inviting foreign tour operators to Nepal and using social media to invite people to visit Nepal. "As people are becoming tech-savvy these days, Nepalis should post positive images on social media and inform people around the world that Nepal is safe. Likewise, newsletter and news should be published and broadcast in such a way that positive message is spread all over the wor"d", he added.
Similarly, Mohan Krishna Sapkota, spokesperson of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said they were planning to promote Nepal in India and China in the first phase. "We will promote areas untouched by the earthquake and at the same time rehabilitate damaged trekking trail"," he said, adding that the ministry was trying to remove negative travel advisories issued by various countries.
On the occasion, Tika Ram Sapkota, coordinator of Pokhara Tourism Recovery Council (PTRC), urged the government to support in promotion of Pokhara.
Similarly, Rabindra Adhikari, chairman of the committee, said they organized the workshop in Pokhara and Nagarkot to spread the message that these tourist destinations are safe. He also said the government should focus on starting direct flights to New Delhi and Lucknow from Pokhara. Among others, Adhikari suggested to the government to waive off visa fee for three months, waive off entry fee for Annapurna Conservation Area, and introduce travel incentive leave (TIL) for government officials for promotion of domestic tourism.
Speaking at the program Minister Sherpa said they can start rebuilding damaged infrastructures immediately if finance ministry releases budget for the purpose.
Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said that the ministry was devising plans to take tourism industry to the pre-quake level" "We will use the upcoming donor's meet to tell the world that many tourist destinations in the country are intact and ready to host visitor"," Mahat said, adding that high-ranking officials from 40 countries have already confirmed their participation in the meet.
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