Kathmandu — The government has announced that a national campaign titled “Devbhoomi Nepal” will be launched to establish Nepal as a global hub for spiritual tourism in the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84.
Presenting the government’s annual policy and programme at the joint session of the Federal Parliament on Monday, President Ramchandra Paudel stated that religious, cultural, wellness, film, and adventure tourism would be given special priority.
Through the policy and programme, the government has also pledged to make air services more reliable and to digitalize the tourism sector. Expansion of aviation infrastructure and the full operation of international airports have been prioritized. Likewise, the government aims to implement structural reforms in the civil aviation sector, increase private sector participation, and strictly enforce international safety standards.
The policy further states that diplomatic initiatives will be undertaken to attract more international airlines to the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and the Pokhara International Airport. In addition, tourist visa services will be fully integrated into an online system to facilitate tourism services.
The policy also mentions the implementation of a “One Door Digital Tourism System” to provide tourist permits and related services in an integrated manner directly from immigration points. The government is preparing to celebrate the year 2085 as “Visit Nepal Year,” with the objective of increasing tourist arrivals, spending, and duration of stay.
Likewise, the government has announced the “Devbhoomi Nepal” national campaign to establish Nepal as a center of global spiritual tourism. For the safety of mountain tourism, search and rescue systems will be linked with modern technology.
Adventure tourism will also be promoted through activities such as paragliding, bungee jumping, and skydiving. The government plans to identify and operate at least 10 new trekking routes across the Himalayan, mid-hill, and Terai regions.
Furthermore, the Nepal Tourism Board will be restructured under a public-private partnership model to make it more innovative. The policy also prioritizes the development of new tourism destinations in Karnali, Sudurpashchim, Madhesh, and Koshi provinces as part of strengthening the tourism ecosystem.
