Kathmandu, April 22:Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Tarini Datta Chataut has said that as tourism is the largest and fast emerging industry in the world, South Asia neded to create a separate identity in the sector in order to attract international tourists into the region.

Minister for Tourism Chataut was speaking at a programme held on the eve of the “goan jatras Festival” organised by the Indian Embassy, the government of the Indian state of Goa and the B.P. Koirala Nepal-India Foundation in the capital here on Friday.

He said organisation of such traditional culture festivals from time to would help attract tourists to the region.

He expressed the view that the Goan Festival would help in promoting tourism between Nepal and India by drawing the attention of tourism entrepreneurs from the two countries.

On the occasion, Minister of Tourism of the state Government of Goa, India, Mr.Fernandes said it has become imperative to expand and promote tourism market at the international level for the development of tourism industry.

He also expressed the belief that this festival, organised for the first time in Nepal, would significantly countribute to further strengthening the ties between the two south asian neighbours and promoting tourism between them.

IndianAmbassador to Nepal K.V. Rajan said that the festival has helped in furthering the mutual ties between Nepal and India. He added that Nepal and India which have diverse culture and rich traditions have great potentials for tourism.

He stressed tourism entrepreneurs from both the countries should work together to look out for a common market and futher expanision and diversfication of tourism market in the region.

Manager of the Soaltee Crown Plaza Ribu Chaterjee also expressed his views on tourism prospects in the region.