NTB plans to make domestic tourism more sustainable-5th National Tourism Fair 2013

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is organising the 5th National Tourism Fair 2013 from Friday to promote domestic tourism.

“We are trying to make domestic tourism more sustainable,” said manager at NTB Lila Bahadur Baniya.

NTB has already organised three different regional tourism fairs in Dharan, Dhangadi and Nepalgunj. “We have more than 40 per cent tourists at the domestic level, hence domestic tourism should be taken to the next level,” he said.

According to NTB, the fair will have participants from 50 districts. It will have around 110 stalls of tourism organisations, government and non-government organisations, district development committees, trusts and development committees, tourism publications, and other industries. The organiser has a target of attracting around 50,000 quality visitors.

NTB has estimated a budget of Rs 10 million to manage the fair. “This year, we are focusing on sales of domestic tourism packages and promotion of homestay,” said Baniya.

During the tourism fair there will be around 13 participants providing homestay facility in the Tarai and mountain regions. Tourism Development Committee – Sirubari, Panchase Region Development Committee, Nagarkot Community Home Stay Village Tourism Management, Chitlang Community Homestay Management Committee, Shree Bhadagoan Tourism Development and Management Committee, Bandipur Tourism Development Committee, Ghale Gaun, Meghauli Homestay, Kapan Homestay Village, Tangtine Homestay, Jaibikmarg Dalla Homestay - Bardiya, and Adventure Rural Development Programme Nepal are the 13 participants who will showcase the concept and package of homestay in Nepal.

“With the declining number of international tourists we have felt the need to promote domestic tourism,” said Baniya. “We should focus on national tourism too rather than being totally dependent on international tourist arrivals,” he added. According to NTB, development of infrastructure and attractive packages and destinations can easily develop the domestic tourism market. The fair will be organised from May 10-12 at Bhrikutimandap.

source: the himalayan times, 9 may 2013