A regional tourism workshop organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) that aims to discuss the measurement and use of tourism data for “People, Planet and Prosperity” by generating employment opportunities and increasing tourism-related economic activities was inaugurated here on Wednesday.
The three-day workshop titled ”Measuring Tourism: Better data for better tourism in Asia and the Pacific” is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
”We need accurate data and information to increase tourist inflow both on a quantitative and qualitative basis by promoting the tourism sector at national and international levels and to create employment opportunities as well as alleviate poverty through increasing tourism-related economic activities,” Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati said.
”The focus now should be on product development and diversification, investment in the tourism sector, conservation of natural and cultural heritage, ensuring that the benefits of tourism reach the community and grassroots level, for building a path to the sustainable, resilient and responsible tourism industry,” Kirati added.
The workshop was attended by senior officials from the UNWTO and saw representation from 12 countries that included India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Maldives, Indonesia, Iran, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Korea, Thailand, and Spain.
Kirati also acknowledged the importance of tourism-related data and its potential use in policies…