KATHMANDU: The Nepal Tourism Board has unveiled a budget of Rs 1.70 billion for the current fiscal year 2083/84. Although the budget was approved on Aug. 27, it was officially released on Thursday.
The board’s strategy for this year focuses on increasing tourist arrivals by 15 percent, promoting the ‘Nepal Health Year 2027′ globally, and prioritizing digital marketing to stimulate the tourism sector. The primary source of funding is the tourism service fee, with a target of collecting Rs 1.17 billion, a 29 percent increase compared to the previous year. Other funding sources include the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) fees, private sector contributions, and the board’s accumulated savings from the previous year.
The board has set ambitious targets, including conducting promotional programs in at least 25 source markets, enhancing the skills of 5,000 tourism workers, and identifying and developing 10 new or potential tourist destinations. For international promotion, the board is prioritizing neighboring countries, specifically India, China, and Bangladesh. The plan includes conducting sales missions in Indian cities, promoting Lumbini globally based on Buddhist culture, and utilizing digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and international influencers.
Data from the previous fiscal year 2082/83 shows that 1,209,357 foreign tourists visited Nepal, which is 1.02 percent higher than the pre-COVID-19 figures of 2019. During that period, Indian tourists accounted for 25.78 percent of the total arrivals, while the SAARC region contributed 37.60 percent.
