Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) administered the oath of office and secrecy to Joshi amid a function on the day. Joshi will lead the country's national tourism organization for the next four years.
Speaking at an introduction program with tourism stakeholders after assuming office, Joshi said his focus would be on boosting confidence of private sector, ensuring transparency and honesty in service delivery, and setting up time-bound plans for the development and promotion of Nepali tourism industry. “In my four-year term, my focus will be on survival of tourism industry in 2016, revival of the industry to the earlier benchmark of 800,000 tourists annually in 2017, reinvigoration for transforming financial and service operations in 2018, and building back better in 2019,” said Joshi.
Welcoming the new CEO, representatives of different travel trade associations said the CEO should work as a bridge between private sector and the tourism ministry. Rajendra Sapkota, board director of NTB representing the private sector, said tourism entrepreneurs were facing plethora of problems after the earthquake and the Indian blockade. “The government should introduce package program for the survival of the industry,” he said. Sapkota also said the new CEO has the challenge of bringing visible changes in the industry. “Private sector will start look for better option if the new CEO failed to work as per their expectations.”
Similarly, founding board director of NTB Basanta Mishra said he was convinced that the new CEO is selected in a fair and independent manner. “The private sector is ready to do anything for the betterment of the industry,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chandra Prasad Rijal, president of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) stressed the need to resolve differences between NTB and his association regarding implementation of Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS). “The differences have to be resolved at the earliest for the development and promotion of trekking industry and to assure wellbeing of thousands of workers dependent on the industry,” he added.
TAAN has not received its share from the Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) fund for almost two years.
Sadhu Ram Sapkota, joint secretary at MoCTCA, assured tourism entrepreneurs that the ministry will soon bring relief package for the survival and revival of the industry.
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