Govt. eyeing one million tourists during NTY 2011

The government has come up with various programmes to promote religious, historical, mountain and adventure tourism through the campaign of " Nepal I Temperament, Welcome and Hospitality of Guest" slogan. In the budget speech unveiled by the Finance Minister, it was aimed to bring 1 million tourists in Nepal by observing Nepal tourism Year 2011. It is stated in the budget that package will be developed to attract tourists with the partnership of successful organization and institution of tourism sector and dissemination as well as publicity task will be carried out .The budget has allocated Rs 250 million for upgrading all airports of Rajbiraj, Janakpur and Humala, Mugu, Kaliot and Dolpa of Karnali zone and Rs 100 million for extension of Dhangadi airport. Likewise, airport of Simara and Dhangadi will be developed and equipped for landing and take off during nighttime, said Finance Minister. Finance Minister Pandey said an interaction with all climbers of Mt Everest will be conducted in coming fiscal year and Nepal will be developed as an attractive venue of international center.

Nepal to start online visa system

In an effort to provide hassle free immigration services, the Department of Immigration (DOI) is all set to introduce online visa application system for foreigners intending to visit Nepal. Once the new system is put in place, a foreigner can apply for visa online and collect it upon arrival at the Tribhuvan international Airport (TIA) without having to stand in queues for hours. Immingratin officials will be able to issue visa immediately as the details of the visiting guests will be available online. At present,ti takes hours to process a visa at the TIA. How ever, once the new system is introduced, foregners will no longer need to fill up the application forms with lengthy details, thereby making it easier for them to acquire visa within a short time. The DOI is currently making necessary preparation to computerize visa issuance system at the TIA office and it Central office in Kathmandu. Officials said the two offices will be linked with then internet. The DOI announcement comes in the wake of the government plan to increase the number of inbound touriste to 1 million in the tourism year 2011 ."since there is no possibility of upgrading then capacity of our airport we need to think of alternative ways to help insure early clearance at immigration for visiting tourists." Said Director General Madhav Raj Regmi at the DOI. "The new measure will greatly help serve that purpose." Regmi said they were currently studying feasibility of making payments for visa fee online. "We are also procuring Document Examination Device to help quickly process visa as the device easily helps to identify forgeries in documents and passports," said Regmi . Nepal entry visa is currently issued from eight immigration offices including kakarbhitta, Birgunj , Tatopani,Bhairahawa,Nepalgunj,Dhangadhi and Gadda Chauki, Mahendra Nagar. Director General Regmi said that they were planning to like these offices with internet in a phase wise manner due to financial constraints. The Doi is also developing integrated computerized date of foreigners visiting Nepal.” There will be less chance of visa misuse once we maintain updated information about the foreigners visiting Nepal in computerized network," he added . "This will help us tally then details in computer".