Cross border tourism in the Himalayan region
File Photo
Kathmandu / January 6: At a time when the country’s tourism industry has suffered a huge blow after the deadly April 25 quake and India’s blockade, a team of experts in the field of tourism have unveiled a new concept of ‘Cross Border Tourism in the Himalayan Region’.
The experts under the banner of the National Tourism Foundation have proposed to uplift the local economy by arranging trips for tourists in the Himalayan region along the routes of Nepal-Lhasa (China) and Bhutan-Sikkim (India).
The experts believe that mutual relations and goodwill besides living standards of the peoples of the countries would reach a new height if the project was implemented.
In a bid to solicit feedback on the plan, the Foundation organised an interaction programme in the capital on Wednesday in presence of former chief secretary Leelamani Poudyal, geographers, tourism experts, border experts, business leaders among others.
On the occasion, the speakers said that the new concept of cross border tourism would also strengthen the cross-country relations.
Director General of Department of Tourism Govinda Bahadur Karki said that tourism industry of the Himalayan regions of the countries would flourish if that was fully utilised adding that the regions share common natural beauty and peoples’ lifestyle.
Former Chief Secretary Poudyal said that the issue of cross-border tourism should be addressed on policy-basis and should be implemented practically.
Foundation’s Chairman Prachandaman Shrestha and tourism entrepreneur Bikram Pandey said that the new concept would be relevant for the promotion of national and international tourism.
Likewise, Chairman of Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation Rupnarayan Rai, International Ultra Marathoners Roshni Rai, Mt Everest climber Kunjan Gyaso Bhutin and others expressed their opinions on Himalayan industry.
On the occasion, Poudyal and former Tourism Secretary Dipendra Purush Dhakal were feted for their contribution to the promotion of tourism. RSS