Step up efforts to lure Chinese Tourists: Stakeholder
Travel trade entrepreneurs and tourism stakeholders have urged the government to step up efforts to lure Chinese tourists as their numbers have been projected to grow much more than visitors from other countries.
They said that the government, along with the private sector, should jointly understand the need of the Chinese—the world’s fastest-growing Buddhist population and holiday seekers.
More flights, promotional materials in Chinese, more Chinese language guides, coordination between Nepali and Chinese travel agencies and understanding Chinese areas of interest in Nepal among other issues should be closely evaluated, they said at a programme entitled “Prospect of Chinese Tourist in Nepal” organized by the Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCCI) here on Thursday.
“China now has become the world’s fourth largest outbound tourist market with high spending. Even if only a small portion could be attracted, it would be a great achievement for countries like Nepal,” said Rajesh Kazi Shrestha, president of the NCCCI.
A boom in Chinese arrivals since the last two years has kept Nepal’s tourism sector busy even during the off season. Chinese tourists have taken a great leap forward to reach 75,631 arrivals last year, a 63 percent growth year on year. There were 46,360 visitors from the northern neighbour in 2010.
