With a view to promote tourism, the government is preparing new ‘tourism policy’ by incorporating the “long-term vision and broad-based reform agenda of the tourism sector”.

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat revealed this during his budget speech Thursday in which he announced an annual budget of Rs 168.9 billion for the new fiscal year 2007/08.

As per the plan Non Resident Nepalis (NRNs), Nepalese diplomats, residential and honorary consulates, Nepalese students and worker communities abroad will be mobilised to implement “Send Home a Friend” programme, as part of the strategy to increase the number of tourists under the Special Tourism Promotion Program next year . Likewise, renowned Nepalese mountaineers, athletes, and others will be involved by awarding the brand ambassador to promote “Nepal for All Seasons” programme.

During his budget speech Minister Mahat also said that necessary infrastructure building works would be started in order to construct a second International Airport in Nijgarh of Bara district. He said the government would also attract foreign investment by building necessary infrastructures including land acquisition for the construction of international airport of regional level in Bhairahawa and Pokhara.

Similarly, the government has also plans to install modern equipments in Tribhuvan International Airport so as to make airlines flights “well managed and more reliable”.

Not forgetting the sick hotel industries, which according to Dr Mahat is passing “through a revival stage”, the government will provide some concession on customs duties at the import of furniture and fixtures to hoteliers in order to minimize their investment cost. Customs exemption will also be provided to the hoteliers for the importation of the vehicle for the use of tourist as well.

And finally for preservation of the national heritages of cultural significance the government has also allocated a budget for the development and preservation of the Lumbini Area Development, Greater Janakpur Area Development, and Pashupati Area including other culturally and archeologically important sites.