China’s decision to include Nepal in its list of outbound destinations for its citizens in the second batch of countries for outbound travel is a welcome relief for Nepal’s ailing tourism industry. Nepal is among the 40 countries in the list of outbound destinations released by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, making it the third South Asian country to be included in the list of outbound destinations for Chinese tourists. With this decision, travel agencies and online tourism enterprises organize outbound group tours for Chinese citizens to Nepal from March 15. This move comes as a breath of fresh air for Nepal's tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nepal, known for its diverse landscapes, natural beauty, and cultural richness, has always been a popular destination for Chinese tourists. In recent years, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal has been on the rise, and the decision by China to include Nepal in the list of outbound destinations is a significant boost for Nepal's tourism industry. The inclusion of Nepal in the list of outbound destinations for Chinese tourists is a positive step towards the revival of the country's tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. The tourism industry is a major contributor to Nepal's economy and provides employment opportunities to thousands of people in the country. The pandemic has forced many tourism-related businesses to shut down, and the inclusion of Nepal in the list of outbound destinations is expected to help in reviving the sector.
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The decision by China to include Nepal in the list of outbound destinations is a testament to the efforts made by Nepal's tourism industry in promoting the country as a safe and attractive destination for tourists. The Nepali tour operators had expressed their concerns about the fate of Nepal's tourism industry after Nepal was not included in the first batch of outbound destinations for Chinese tourists. They had even written to the government and Embassy of China in Nepal to take necessary initiatives to include Nepal as one of the outbound tourist destinations for Chinese tourists. The decision by China to include Nepal in the second batch of outbound destinations is a result of these efforts. This is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Nepal's tourism industry. The tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal are hopeful that the decision will attract more Chinese tourists to the country, which will, in turn, provide a significant boost to the sector. In fact, tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara had earlier written to the Embassy of China to include Nepal as a destination for Chinese outbound tourists. They have expressed happiness over the decision and thanked the Chinese government for considering their request. As the regional international airport in Pokhara has already come into operation, the direct flights between Pokhara and the nearest city of China could further help to increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal.
The latest decision by China to include Nepal in the list of outbound destinations is not only good news for Nepal's tourism industry but also for the bilateral relations between Nepal and China. The two countries share a deep-rooted cultural and historical connection, and the inclusion of Nepal in the list of outbound destinations will help in strengthening these ties. The move will also help in increasing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, which will further strengthen the bilateral relations. The decision by China to include Nepal in the list of outbound destinations for its citizens in the second batch of countries for outbound travel is a welcome relief for Nepal's ailing tourism industry. The move is expected to provide a significant boost to the sector, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic. The Nepali tour operators, tourism entrepreneurs, and the government should take advantage of this opportunity to promote Nepal as a safe and attractive destination for tourists and make the most of the decision by China.
