Nepal Tourism Year 2011 -- that aims to host one million foreign tourists -- is expected to create more than one million jobs in the country.
The calculation is based on an average tourist spending of $600 that generates employment for seven to 10 people.
According to a report from World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the contribution of Travel and Tourism economy to employment is expected to rise from 5.8 per cent (614,000) in 2010 to 6.4 per cent of total employment to 914,000 by 2020.
The increase in number of employment will help in poverty reduction also as the Three Year Interim Plan (TYIP) has targetted to reduce poverty level to 15 per cent by 2015.
Since the travel and tourism touches all sectors of economy, its real impact is even greater. "Nepal's travel and tourism directly and indirectly accounts for Rs 81 billion equivalent to 7.4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and represents 5.8 per cent to 614,00 jobs of the total employment in the country," said the WTCC, the forum for business leaders in the Travel and Tourism industry.
"Tourism can generate employment in the rural areas giving boost to the rural economic activities as it has a trickle down effect," said Sarad Pradhan, Media Consultant at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
According to Central Bureau of Statics (CBS), the gross foreign exchange earnings from foreign tourists in 2008 stood at $ 351.96 million, whereas Nepal has earned $230.61 million in 2007.
The contribution of Travel and Tourism economy to gross GDP is expected to rise 7.4 per cent (Rs 80.9 billion) in 2010 to 8.1 per cent (Rs 182.1 billion) in 2020, according to the WTCC that has expected real GDP growth for the Travel and Tourism economy to rise 4.4 per cent per annum.
The much-hyped national campaign is scheduled to officially inaugurate by the President Ram Baran Yadav on Januray 14, when Taleb Rifai, the secretary general of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), seven SAARC tourism ministers and the secretary of the Cambodian Tourism Ministry have confirmed to attend.
Everest top 10 destination
KATHMANDU: Mount Everest Base Camp has been a popular destination for trekkers since the very first expeditions to the Nepalese side of Everest in the 1953. To add to the popularity, CNN has added Everest as a one of the top 10 destinations for 2011.
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