New Delhi, February 26: The political landscape in Nepal is heating up ahead of the elections scheduled for March 5. Tourism has emerged as a crucial topic in this electoral race. Political parties are emphasizing tourism in their manifestos.
Four major political parties have placed tourism at the forefront of their agendas. They promise significant reforms in aviation safety, diplomatic efforts to secure air entry routes with India, and ambitious targets to double the number of tourists and their spending within five years.
According to the Kathmandu Post, a common theme in the promises made by these parties is the commitment to remove Nepal from the European Commission’s air safety list and to increase international flights from the country’s two new international airports.
The National Independent Party (RSP), led by Rabi Lamichhane, has pledged to double the number of tourists and their average spending over the next five years. They also promise to extend the duration of tourist stays.
The Kathmandu Post reports that Nepal has seen just over one million tourists each year for the past three years. This figure has yet to return to pre-2019 levels. Industry stakeholders attribute this decline in tourism to frequent plane crashes, poor highway infrastructure, and inadequate international promotion.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council in London, Nepal’s tourism sector generated revenue of 327.9 billion rupees (approximately 2.5 billion dollars) in 2023, providing direct and indirect employment to 1.19 million people, which accounts for 15.2% of total employment. In 2023, the sector contributed a total of 358.9 billion rupees (around 2.7 billion dollars) or 6.6% to the GDP, slightly down from 6.7% in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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