December 23: The government has prepared a strategic action plan for the Visit Nepal Decade (2023-2032) with a target to bring in 3.5 million tourists and create 1 million additional jobs in the country’s tourism industry.    
The action plan also aims to revive the tourism industry affected by Covid-19 to the pre-pandemic stage within two years.    
A five-member taskforce formed by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation under the leadership of tourism expert Prachandaman Shrestha submitted its report to Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha on Thursday suggesting the government to conduct tourism promotional events in all seasons in the country.    
Upon receiving the report, Minister Shrestha said that the concept of tourism decade was proposed realizing the need for a long-lasting idea for tourism revival as the country’s tourism sector suffered badly due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years.    
Minister Shrestha also expressed confidence that the Visit Nepal Decade would help establish Nepal as a leading destination in the global tourism market.    
The action plan has incorporated integrating Nepal’s geographic, natural, environmental, social, cultural and religious diversities with the tourism sector and declare special touristic sites on the basis of tourism feasibility while developing infrastructures in this sector.    
Likewise, public, private and community sector’s cooperation and partnership is highlighted in the action plan for the promotion and development of the tourism sector. -- RSS