17 tourism zones to be developed
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) has started work on developing specific and exclusive zones for intensive tourism development under its 17 Tourism Zones (TZs) plan included in the government’s policies and programmes and the budget of 2011-12.
The plan has also been included in the government’s “Immediate Action Plan for Economic Development and Prosperity” presented recently. Of late, the MoTCA has acquired two ropanis of land in Gulmi and Rolpa to set up integrated tourist service centres.
Likewise, land acquisition in Bhojpur is at the final stages while the acquisition process in Rara, Achham and Janakpur is in progress, MoTCA officials said.
This fiscal year, the MoTCA has targeted setting up at least six of the planned TZs which will provide tourist service, security, health care and other facilities to tourists. The government has allocated a budget of Rs 6 million for the development of each zone for this fiscal year.
“In each of these TZs, the government intends to brand local products and developed area as an attraction for tourism,” said MoTCA joint secretary Balkrishna Ghimire. After developing the zones, the National Planning Commission will endorse the areas in the government’s policy.
Currently, there are six tourism offices operating in Kakkarbhitta, Birgunj, Janakpur, Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Nepalgunj under the MoTCA. Similarly, there are 10 tourism development committees working for the promotion of tourism.
After the development of 17 TZs, all the offices and committees will be merged to provide integrated services to domestic and foreign visitors, Ghimire said.
The development of TZs also aims to support the government envisaged Vision 20. Vision 20 was launched during Visit Lumbini Year 2012 where the government has announced conducting annual tourism campaigns until 2020. The government has announced Visit Lumbini Year 2012 after Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
As per the government’s Vision 20 plan, the year 2013 has been announced as Sisne-Jaljala-Dhorpatan-Karnali Tourism Year covering 13 districts -- Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan, Pyuthan, Baglung, Myagdi, Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Kalikot, Dolpa, Dailekh and Jajarkot.
Similarly, the other planned campaigns are Bideha-Mithila-Salhesh Tourism Year 2014, Birat-Mechi Pahadi Tourism Year 2015, Rurusunga-Pokhara-Annapurna-Manaslu Tourism Year 2016, Simroun-Kathmandu-Langtang Tourism Year 2017, Arun-Sagarmatha Tourism Year 2018, Chisapani-Khaptad-Ramarosan Tourism Year 2019 and Domestic Tourism and Civil Aviation Year 2020.
“Heritage structures in many areas are totally neglected. The TZs will also conserve important historical structures, lakes and wildlife sanctuaries and developed them as a major source of income from tourism,” Ghimire said.
PROPOSED 17 TOURISM ZONES
1. Khaptad-Ramrosan
2. Rara-Karnali
3. Chisapani-Thakurdwar
4. Sisne-Jaljala-Dhorpatan
5. Pokhara
6. Annapurna-Manaslu
7. Lumbini
8. Ruru Resung
9. Kathmandu
10. Langtang-Gaurishankar
11. Simroun
12. Sagarmatha
13. Arun
14. Mechi Pahadi
15. Bideha-Mithila
16. Salhesh
17. Birat
Posted on: 2012-02-04 10:38
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