POKHARA: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayankaji Shrestha expressed the government's commitment to develop Nepal as a tourism hub.    
He made such a remark at a dinner reception hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Gandaki Province Office of Nepal Tourism Board to welcome the ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions of different countries on the occasion of 74th Annapurna Day in Pokhara on Sunday.    
The government has set a target to attract 1.6 million tourists next year, he said adding that the government has been working to identify and promote new tourism destinations.    
"The government is planning to develop tourism circuit along with the identification of new destinations and trekking routes," DPM Shrestha noted.    
He urged the ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions to promote Nepal's tourism in their communities and the country.    
DPM Shrestha said that the people of Nepal are known all over the world in terms of spiritual culture.

“Tourists from all over the world come to Nepal to see many natural and cultural heritages, including Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha and the Mount Everest, the world's highest peak,” he said.    
DPM Shrestha said Pokhara, the tourism capital, is also being developed as an important destination for adventure tourism activities.    
On the occasion of Annapurna Day, ambassadors of various countries and representatives of diplomatic missions marched from Dhampus to Astam in Kaski district.    
The trekking expedition was organized in commemoration of the ascent of the 8,041-metre-high Annapurna I for the first time on June 3, 1950, when French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachnal scaled the mountain.    
The 74th Annapurna Day is being celebrated in tourism capital Pokhara today by organizing several activities. -- RSS