Visit Nepal Year 2085 Announced
The government has announced that BS 2085 will be observed as Nepal Visit Year. Presenting the annual estimates of revenue and expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 at a joint meeting of both houses of the Federal Parliament, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced that intensive preparations will be advanced to observe BS 2085 as Nepal Visit Year and 2027 AD as a wellness tourism destination for tourism development.
The government has allocated Rs. 7.34 billion for the culture and tourism sector and Rs. 2.13 billion for the civil aviation sector.
Minister Wagle informed that the budget includes provisions to restructure the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal by the coming Poush and separate the regulatory and operating bodies to remove Nepal from the European Union’s air safety list, operate Nepal Airlines Corporation under a company model, determine the construction modality of Nijgadh International Airport within six months, and collaborate with the private sector in managing the operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport.
The government has allocated Rs. 1.53 billion for upgrading Tribhuvan International Airport. The budget also includes provisions to expand Bharatpur Airport and operate night flights, as well as upgrade Surkhet Airport in collaboration with the provincial government, Talcha Airport in Mugu, and Tarigaun Airport in Dang.
Under the development of historical sites, provisions have been made for infrastructure development at historical sites such as Tilaurakot, Devdaha, Kapilvastu, and Ramgram. The government has allocated Rs. 830 million for the Greater Lumbini Development Program.
The budget mentions branding Janakpur as a wedding destination, upgrading the Ram Janaki Path and Ram Janaki Parikrama Road, and moving ahead with the necessary process to list Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu, Janakpurdham in Dhanusha, and Gokarneshwar in Kathmandu on the World Heritage List.
A special project has been proposed for the conservation of historical Buddhist monasteries older than 200 years in high Himalayan districts, including Mustang and Manang.
Similarly, the budget mentions developing areas including Khaptad, Badimalika, Rara, and Swargadwari in Sudurpaschim as a provincial tourism corridor named the “Danphe Route,” developing new high-hill trekking routes, and giving original names to unnamed mountains above 6,000 meters and opening them for climbing.
The budget also includes plans to expand the Indigenous Nationalities Museum in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, and operate model homestays in Dalit settlements in Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim to promote the original skills and arts of the Dalit community.
The budget states that high-altitude sickness services will be operated, Ayurveda and yoga will be linked with health tourism, and financial incentives will be provided for the construction of luxury resorts and hotels to promote tourism.
