Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) welcomed and felicitated Mr. Suraj Vaidya on December 9 at TAAN Secretariat for being appointed as the national coordinator of Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign.
TAAN President Mr. Nava Raj Dahal congratulated and wished Mr. Vaidya for his successful tenure for making Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign a milestone for tourism development in Nepal. He said that Mr. Vaidya’s leadership will play vital role to coordinate and launch various programs and campaigns in order to bring 2 million foreign tourists to the country in the year of 2020. He requested Mr. Vaidya for his valuable inputs to formulate Tourism Act that will benefit entire tourism of Nepal. He urged to support and aid to control illegal trekking operation for creating an effective environment for trekking operators as well as tourists.
Meanwhile, President Dahal emphasized on various ongoing issues in tourism sector like TIMS abandonment in several trekking regions, unnecessary permit fees, lack of infrastructures and reconstructions. He suggested to introduce Ski adventure at Annapurna Base Camp during off season, establishing Hippie museum at Basantapur, building porter shelter at various trekking routes, opening restricted trekking route, easy access at boarders of Nepal, introducing online banking system, E-Visa payment system, building gates, toilets and other infrastructures in tourists hub, Thamel that can act the ladder in Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign.
TAAN General Secretary Mr. Ang Pemba Sherpa believed that the coordinator Vaidya will introduce new visions that will lead to bringing in 2 million tourists in Nepal in 2020 and assured possible support from TAAN. He also recommended to form subcommittee from presidents of major tourism associations and work jointly to make the campaign successful.
Likewise, Mr. Vaidya, national coordinator of VNY 2020 and a successful industrialist quoted” Tourism is the biggest employer”, saying VNY 2020 is the foundation for the next 30 years to brining in maximum numbers of quality tourists. He requested TAAN to introduce any two products that can contribute for the campaign. Expressing the importance of guide in tourism, he said that their committee is planning for ‘Certified guides in 2020’. He highlighted upon making Nepal’s security stronger so that tourists can easily come up to Visit Nepal without any hesitation. Proclaiming upon his vision to make VNY 2020, a huge success, he said to make TIA a boutique airport, promote culture tourism, introducing E- Visa, E-Payment system, building infrastructures like toilet, parking in touristic hubs.
Senior Vice President Mr. Khum Bahadur Subedi, First- Vice President Mr. Jeeban Thapa Magar, Second Vice- President Mr. Nilhari Bastola, General Secretary Mr. Ang Pemba Sherpa, Treasurer Mr. Ram Krishna Timalsina, Joint- Treasurer Ms.Tara Rana, Executive Members Mr. Gopal Shrestha, Surya Bahadur Bhetwal, P.K Sherpa, Rajan Prasad Kapri, Sher Bahadur Pariyar, Janga Bahadur Lama and Babu Ram Gurung were also present in the program.
