My Focus will be on NTY 2011 | RecentFusion.com

My Focus will be on NTY 2011
With a strong support of Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) including other tourism related organizations, the Council of Ministers has appointed Mr. Ganesh Bahadur Bhattarai as an executive member of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). He is an ex-president of PTC and the Restaurant and Bar Asssociation Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara chapter. He is now a proprietor of Boomerang Restaurant, Lakeside and the central member of All Nepal Football Association Nepal. Mr. Bhattarai has good commanding capacity with a dashing personality. After being appointed as a member of NTB, we encountered him to reveal his future plans. Excerpts:

First tell us, how did it all happen that made you NTB member?
As you know, I am not only a tourism entrepreneur but also a sports man. So, I am always straight forward in each and every field. Before my appointment, I had clearly asked my entrepreneur friends to have this post since I was not personally interested on it but they came to me back with a strong support that created the environment in my appointment.

So, how are your future plans?
My focus will be on operation of more and more international air flights from Tribhuvan International Airport to bring thousands of tourists to Nepal. As we are going to celebrate 2011 as a Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) with a target of 1 million tourists, the increment of air flights is essential part. I am also thinking about the launching of Pokhara-Dolpa flight service. Similarly flights to Manang from Pokhara should be revived. More than that, I will pressurize for the construction of proposed Regional International Airport in Pokhara.

It means that 2011 will be your major focus?
Yes, you are right. But the promotion of Nepalese tourism in an international market, the improvement effort in travel advisories that have been issuing by different embassies for few years as a security alert to their citizens and the invitation to international travel writers to Nepal to spread the message of peace throughout the globe are my agendas. Similarly, we have to establish different promotional units for Europe, America, Asia and South East Asia.

How do you address the local tourism related issues?
Exploration of alternative trekking routs in the Annapurna Region, conservation of Fewa Lake, supply of life jackets to the boats of Fewa and Begnas Lake, development of zoological park and bird watching center in Raniban, development of seven lakes of Lekhnath Municiapality as research and recreational center, beautification of tourist bus park and the addition of tourist polices are also my priorities.

It is said that we have very small number of skilled manpower in tourism sector. What do you say?
Definitely we have limited number of skilled manpower. So, I am thinking of launching some training to fulfill that need. An interaction with college level students will be organized to address that concern. And, I would like to suggest Federation of Nepal Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to produce tourism related goods in their own instead of importing form international market. Nature, culture and ecotourism are also important parts of tourism. Though they are the internal matters of Nepalese tourism, we have to go hand in hand to preserve and develop them.

You are also a sportsman, so, what are you thinking about sports tourism?
Of course I am. Sports tourism is undividable part of Nepalese tourism. So, I will table the issues of football, cricket, swimming, rafting, kayaking, marathon, paragliding and power gliding in NTB meetings as a tourism promotion measures. But, I request all the tourism related organization to assist me for the development and promotion of tourism sector.

By Rup Narayan Dhakal

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