“Concept of two-day leave to celebrate 2021 as internal tourism year”

File photo Photo Courtesy: Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai addressing inauguration ceremony of Security Guard Building on November 17, 2020. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Kathmandu: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai has said that 2021 will be celebrated as the year of domestic tourism.

He mentioned that the concept of two days public holiday has been introduced for the same reason. Addressing an event on ‘Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism and Future Directions’ organized by the Central Working Committee of the Official Trade Union of Civil Servants on Friday, Minister Bhattarai said that 2021 will be the year of domestic tourism.

He said that the ministry has introduced the concept of today-day public holiday in a week to support domestic tourism. Stating that the covid-19 epidemic has hit the tourism sector, which has been contributing Rs 80 billion annually to Nepal’s economy in foreign exchange earnings, he said that efforts were being made to promote domestic tourism in the absence of large number of tourists.

“Vaccines against the corona virus are now being used. Even if the vaccines are introduced, there will not be a large influx of foreign tourists for another year,” he said.

He said that discussions and consultations are still going on with the experts on the concept of two-day leave. He further added that the issue has not been decided yet and discussions are ongoing. He said that the government would take a decision only after taking the opinion of all parties.