Kathmandu. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai has urged tourism entrepreneurs to develop domestic tourism promotion package in view of decreased inflow of foreign tourists due to global COVID-19 pandemic. It would still take some time for the regular inflow of foreign tourists due to the infection, he said, adding that so domestic tourism promotion is a must for the country.

The minister was addressing an interaction with tourism entrepreneurs organised by the Nepal Tourism Board here on Wednesday. Responding to demand of tourism entrepreneurs to grant VISA for foreign citizens to visit Nepal amid the infection, Minister Bhattarai urged them to sell tourist package to local tourists, stating that influx of foreign tourists would not be encouraging despite granting visa rampantly to them.

Since September 21 when domestic flights resumed amidst the infection, 100,075 people were out of Kathmandu through 4,804 flights and 169,000 were in through 4,055 flights, he said.

Secretary of the Ministry Yadav Koirala urged tourism entrepreneurs to come up with an action plan to reopen tourism sector and a conclusion in this regard would be reached through collective discussion.

Representatives of Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Nepal Chapter took part in the program. (RSS)