The three day long ‘Ilam Festival’ kicked off in Ilam Monday to inject a fresh lease of life to the ailing tourism industry, which witnessed an abrupt decline in the year 2059 BS. With the onslaught of the Maoist perpetrated violence, tourist arrivals dipped drastically in the year 2059 BS.

Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Narayan Singh Pun inaugurated the Ilam festival. On the occasion Pun said the national economy would get a boost through the sustainable development of domestic as well as international tourism.

Pun assured that he would put forward a proposal in the next cabinet meeting to construct an international airport in Ilam. The cultural procession that was brought out from the District Administration Office converged at the Sainik Tudikhel after going around the major thoroughfares of the Ilam market. nepalnews.com am Apr 15