'Tourism backbone of nat'l economy'

Gulmi, Feb 1: Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Chet Narayan Acharya acknowledged the crucial role of tourism sector to boost the nation's rural economy.     

After inspecting the Kange Deurali Reservoir and a drinking water project at Madane Rural Municipality-6 in Gulmi district today, CM Acharya highlighted the province government's key priorities in tourism promotion and strengthening of the rural economy by utilizing local resources.     

Noting the importance of the drinking water in districts like Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Pyuthan, the CM expressed his confidence that such drinking water projects would create many jobs in local levels.     

He viewed that the three-tier government should take collective responsibility to advance drinking water project.     

According to him, the Lumbini province government was preparing to frame a tourism circuit by connecting Lumbini's cultural, historical and natural heritages for tourism promotion.     

The circuit, the CM believed, would encourage tourists visiting Lumbini to extend their stay thereby further revitalizing the local economy.     

Describing Lumbini Province as the 'Mini Nepal' for its diverse geography, he stated that the province featured geography spanning from tarai and hill to mountain.     

According to him, preserving major archeological heritages and attracting external tourists was a key strategy for province's economic prosperity, job creation and socio-economic transformation.     

The province government has stressed on development of infrastructures, improvement on service delivery and promotion of touristic activities to boost local tourism, he shared.     

He reiterated that policy reform, enabling investment-friendly climate among others were high on government's agendas for development and promotion of sustainable tourism.(RSS)