Tourism entrepreneurs from Bangladesh have stressed on making the neighbouring countries within the Saarc region as the major source countries for promoting Nepal's tourism.

Speaking at a programme in the Capital on Wednesday, they suggested adopting the 'neighbourhood first' policy for attracting more tourists from Saarc countries rather than the developed countries in the context of the increasing importance of Nepal in the world tourism market.

Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Foundation of Tourism Development, Raju Iquram, said that Nepal holds vast possibilities for attracting a large number of tourists from its neighbourhood, besides the developed countries.

"We only tend to focus on Europe and America as the source countries for tourists and do not look into the neighbourhood. Actually, a huge number of tourists from neighbouring countries could be brought in," he said.

Iquaram said the earthquake has not caused damage to Nepal's tourism as was made out to be in the media, adding that Bangladesh and Nepal could collaborate for tourism promotion.

CEO of Bangladesh Media Limited, Sayed Ishtiaque Reza Ekattor underlined the need of the two countries working in tandem for carrying out promotional activities taking into account the tourism potentials of Nepal.

Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Raj Joshi, said that Nepal's tourism sector has reached the status quo ante and was waiting to welcome more tourists. He expressed the confidence that there was a strong basis that Nepal could become the regional tourism hub in the Saarc region.

A team comprising the tourism entrepreneurs, tour operators and media group from Bangladesh toured the major tourism destinations of Nepal some days back. They visited Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini, and also shared their experience with the Nepali tourism bodies.

CEO of Avibadan Holidays, the organiser of the programme, Umesh Gupta, stated that Nepal's tourism sector was in its previous state. He said the Bangladeshi team has been invited on an observation tour to give a positive message not only in the neighbouring countries but to the entire world that Nepal is still a prime tourism destination and the earthquake had not totally ruined it. RSS