Nijgadh Int’l Airport among tourism minister’s 32 to-do tasks for next 2 months

Published On: September 11, 2017 08:06 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Sept 11: Expediting the Nijgadh International Airport project and marking the current fiscal year as Visit Pashupati Year to attract more tourists in Kathmandu are among the key tasks that Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev plans to execute in the next two months.

Coming up with appropriate policy measures and taking initiatives to omit Nepali air carriers from EU blacklist, are the other targets of Dev for this period.

Organizing a press meet on Sunday, minister Dev unveiled a 32-point work-plan for the period.
The current government is expected to be replaced after the upcoming provincial and federal elections in November and December. The work-plan has major focus on amendment and improvement of current policies regarding tourism, culture and civil aviation. It also targets development of sustainable tourism and civil aviation sector of the country.

Speaking at the event, Dev said that amendment proposals for casino regulation, travel trekking regulation, and mountaineers regulation will be submitted to the government. He said that amendment proposal for United Nepal Civil Aviation Act will also be submitted to the cabinet.

“To promote our country as a tourism destination I will be doing as much as I can,” he added: “Preparations will start soon to form a secretariat for Visit Nepal Year 2020. Furthermore tourism promotional campaigns will be conducted targeting Indian and Chinese tourists.”

“Country-wise tourism promotion strategy will be implemented and the ministry will invite tender bids to prepare a master plan for development of eco-tourism at Rara Lake,” he said: “Construction of integrated rescue centers in the Annapurna region will be completed soon to rescue the mountaineers and trekkers from difficulties.”

Likewise, Dev has announced to celebrate the current fiscal year as Visit Pashupati Year in collaboration with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) led by the Pashupati Area Development Trust.
Dev also said that the works of Pokhara international airport will be completed and the issues relating to under-construction Gautam Buddha international airport will be sorted out immediately.