KATHMANDU, June 14: An international tourism fair has begun at Bhrikutimandap of Kathmandu from today with the objective of promoting Nepal's tourism in the international market. Inaugurating the fair, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hit Bahadur Tamang, expressed the belief that the fair would be fruitful to promote Nepal's tourism across the world.

Minister Tamang said that the ministry has been carrying out activities with commitment to fulfill the government's goal of bringing in at least 1.6 million tourists this year by resolving problems seen in the tourism sector. Sharing that activities are underway to waive VAT and other unnecessary taxes imposed on air tickets, he clarified that the existing problems would be resolved before the passage of the budget for tourism promotion.

The government has already started activities including infrastructure construction in areas with tourism potential as Nepal is in the list of must-visit destinations in the world tourism market, added Minister Tamang, stating that the government has set a target of carrying out activities collaborating with organization working in the tourism sector as development of tourism sector prepares a foundation of taking the country towards prosperity.

One hundred fifty-five entrepreneurs from 16 countries --Nepal, India, Korea, Singapore, the Maldives, the USA, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bhutan are participating in the two-day fair. Fair Coordinator Bishnu Pandey mentioned that the fair was organized to connect Nepal's tourism sector to international level.