Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and is the world's youngest republic. It is bounded to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolis.
Nepal has a rich geography and it has been described as the biggest natural museum in the world. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in Nepali. It contains more than 240 peaks over 20000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized.
Nature has given plentiful tourism resources to Nepal. The natural scenery, high mountains, incomparable cultural heritage, art, culture and numerous specialties’ have made Nepal a well-known destination in world tourism map with a distinct image of its own. Almost all worlds’ climate and ecosystem is available in Nepal, moreover cultural, geographical, ethnic and bio-diversities of the country allure international visitors to Nepal time and again. Nepal Tourism Year 2011 has begun with a slogan “Together for Tourism”. The main objective of this program is to promote tourism sector of Nepal internationally, besides this program helps to promote the Nepalese culture, art, biodiversity and stakeholder business through E marketing.
Nepal is celebrating Nepal Tourism Year 2011 throughout the year 2011. This announcement anticipates at least one million international tourists in Nepal in the year 2011. During the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly, on May 28, 2008, the nation declared to celebrate Tourism Year on 2011. Tourism, as a foundation of Nepal’s economy, is rising because of additional attractions such as casinos, a host of adventure sports like Everest Skydiving and mountain biking in Nepal’s mountains and hills as well as international film and drama festivals. According to the Immigration Department, 412,446 tourists visited Nepal by air in the year 2010. This number was one of the highest since 1999. About 6 percentages of the total foreign exchange earnings in 2010 was from tourism in Nepal. We believe “GUEST IS GOD”. According to World Travel and Tourism Council (WITC) the share of tourism in global economy is expected to grow by over 10 percentages in 2011. Tourism will be a key drive to poverty reduction by creating an additional 66 million jobs by 2020, 50 million alone in Asia. This will make Asia Pacific region the second most important tourism destination in the world by 2020. And Nepal is best place for that.
The past of Nepal is extremely glorious. It is the birth place to Gautam Buddha (Messenger of Peace). Nepal is a unique place of different cultures which is our asset. It is the sacred home of Lord Pashupatinath and Shwayambhu. Nepal is unparallel in beauty. The Koshi, Karnali, Gandaki, Bagmati and hundreds of rivers make sacred. Phewa Lake, Rara Lake, Tilijo Lake etc. beautify our country. Kathmandu, the city of temples has the reputation of being the residence of Lord Shiva. Lumbini is the renowned birthplace of Gautam Buddha who taught the world light and peace. Now Lumbini is an international holy place of pilgrims.
“Visit Nepal Year 1998” was a great festival of Tourist in Nepal till now where more than 500,000 tourists from all over the world were benefited to enjoy the beautiful Nepal. The main objectives of Visit Nepal Year 1998 were to increase the number of tourists and earn foreign currency. The slogan fixed was, “Visit Nepal Year 1998 for the stable development of the country through stable tourists”. The government allocated a budget of 80.42 million to make the program successful. The efforts were made to attract the tourists in sixty places of different parts of the country organizing exhibitions and festivals. Cultural programs were arranged. The Visit Nepal Year 1998 has been officially concluded on Dec 31, 1998 declaring “See You Again”. Now it’s the time to meet again. You are Welcome to our NEPAL. Let’s join our hands together to celebrate “NEPAL TOURISM YEAR 2011”.
-Rajendra Gautam
Nepal