It will take 4-5 years to revive tourism sector: Entrepreneurs

Tourism entrepreneurs say that it will take around four to five years for the tourism industry to return to normalcy.

The entrepreneurs have expressed their worries regarding the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the tourism sector.

During a virtual conference organized by Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON),  Prachanda Man Shrestha, former CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), said that the number of tourists visiting Nepal will decrease because of this pandemic.

“We can’t focus on mass tourism,” he said during the conference entitled ‘SEJON Economic Policy Discussion’. “Now, we need to find options to sustain our business,” Shrestha added.

Similarly, Yogendra Shakya, coordinator of Visit Nepal 2011, said that it will take four to five years to revive this sector.

“The situation might not improve completely until 2024/25,” said Shakya, adding, “So, both the private sector and the government need to collaborate to bring some new strategies for sustaining tourism.”