Our Government has intensified the preparations for Nepal Tourism Year 2020. The delayed preparations that were caused by the death of Rabindra Adhikari in a plane crash while restoring the ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has taken place. While Yogesh Bhattrai, the Tourism Minister intensified the preparations for Tourism Year keeping other works off the desk.

What are the efforts and progress?
Although the official announcement of Visit Nepal Year 2020 was long ago, confusion still remains. But in the midst of the confusion, some indicators have been found to be pleasant. Unfortunately, tourism rates are not as high as expected. On the bright side, besides the progress and efforts from the government for tourism year, private sectors have also increased its activity.

1. Hotel Discount Scheme
For the tourists visiting Nepal at the tourism year, the hotels have offered a spontaneous discount scheme. Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has decided to give 30 percent concession during the tour period in Nepal.
HAN has declared to give a 30 percent discount on hotel rooms and a 15 percent discount on the food of hotels under HAN. Only the tourist-level star hotels are members of HAN.

2. Announcement of Discounts by Homestays
Homestays across the country are offering to give a 20 percent discount to both foreign and domestic tourists. Homestays Association of Nepal (HOSAN) decided to give discounts on food and accommodation in order
to make tourism year a grand success. According to HOSAN, homestays are currently operating in 76 districts of
the country. HOSAN also states that it plans to provide entertainment by cultural events every evening, as long as tourists are available for homestays.

3. Nepal Airlines to extend International Flights
The National Flag carrier of Nepal, Nepal Airlines has been expanding its international flights to suit the tourism year. Ning, which started direct flights to Kasai International Airport in Osaka, Japan from last August 1, has been
scheduled to fly direct to Japan’s Narita International Airport from the second week of January this year. This process is understood to be in the final stage.

Similarly, the corporation will also be flying to Guangzhou, China from last Tuesday. The corporation is also taking initiatives for Beijing and Shanghai flights, the capital of China. It is believed that Chinese tourists will get some help in coming to Nepal.

4.Himalayan Airlines flight extension

For the first time since Himalayan Airlines launched a direct flight to Beijing, the capital of China, Nepal-China direct airline connection was established. Himalayan Airlines, which started 5 years ago with a joint investment of
Nepalese and Chinese, has also seen launching a commercial flight at Daxing The airport in Beijing.

The Himalayas make three flights weekly, Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. The Himalayas have begun flying from Dhaka to Bangladesh in the past. Bangladesh is also a big market for Nepali tourism

5. Spice Jet's comeback

Indian airline ' Spice Jet' will be arriving in Nepal this November. Spice Jet, which closed its Kathmandu flight after the 2015 earthquake, is again flying daily from Kathmandu to Delhi and Bombay. Spice Jet has also appointed Zenith Travels as its General Sales Agent.

6. Additional Flight to Salaam Air

Oman's airline provider Salaam Air has added flights to Kathmandu. Salaam, which has been flying only 3 times a week, has increased the number of flights to one flight per day. Salaam Air started flying to Nepal from last year.

7. Addition of 2 new Airlines

Jumeirah Airways in Kuwait and Vistara Air in India are flying to Nepal. Nepal Civil Aviation Authority has given permission to Jazeera Airways to fly to Nepal. Vistara's permit process has also reached its final stage.

Jumeirah will fly to Nepal from the first week of next November. Tourist arrivals are expected to increase after the airline carrier, which is flying internationally, to Nepal.

8. Closed Airport on Operation now

The government has been operating some of the closed airports for years. The airport, which is staffed but with an only emergency landing, has come into operation. Still, some airports are in the state of shutting down.

A lively example of a closed airport operation is the Ramechhap Airport. The airport, which closed at a loss of Rs 1 lakh annually, is now very busy. The airport has come into operation with the provision of departure of the tourists
visiting the Solukhumbu area from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. There are dozens of flights daily. The Civil Aviation Authority has said that the Ramechhap Airport will not have to deal with losses from next year.

In addition, the Jumla Airport in Jumla, Chaurajhari Airport in Rukum West and Balewa Airport in Baglung are in operation. These airports were closed for years. Balewa Airport came into operation after two years.