By Our Correspondent
Chitwan, Dec 1 : Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai has said that preparations were underway to bring a programme for 2021 focusing on domestic tourism.
Talking to media persons at the Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan on Sunday, he said that preparations were underway to celebrate 2021 as the year of domestic tourism as Visit Nepal Year 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We haven't been able to do anything for the last eight months due to the pandemic, now domestic tourists are on the rise," he said, adding that around 40 per cent flights had now been started.
There is a plan to bring in international tourists as well, said Minister Bhattarai, adding that the ministry was in preparation to bring foreign tourists to Nepal from 2021.
Speaking at a programme held at Bharatpur Metropolitan City on Sunday evening, Minister Bhattarai said that the expansion of Bharatpur Airport would be expedited soon to support the development of central Nepal.
Stating that the work of expansion of Bharatpur Airport had already started, he informed that the work on managing the inconveniences and obstacles to complete it was moving forward.
"We are in the process of relocating the Nepal Army after completing discussions and feasibility studies for the expansion of the airport at various stages," he said.
He added that the barracks and horse stables of the Nepal Army would be shifted in other place and the emergency air base of the Nepal Army would be set up at that place without compromising the master plan of the airport.
Stating that the Bharatpur Airport is at risk at present, he said that the Bharatpur Metropolitan City should demolish the substandard houses and high-rise buildings, and that would not be possible to have a well-equipped airport without compromising the desire of having a tall house.
Minister Bhattarai stressed on the need for positive support from all in the expansion of the airport.
Mayor of the Bharatpur Metropolitan City Renu Dahal said that the city wanted to expand the Bharatpur Airport into a well-organised and well-equipped airport with night flights and that the expansion and development of the airport would significantly contribute to the overall development of Chitwan and its adjoining districts.