KATHMANDU, March 1: Tourism experts have said the infrastructure development was a must to promote tourism and strengthen the national economy.
Participants at an interaction organised by the Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education (GATE) in the capital city stressed the need for developing infrastructure and producing professional human power for the augmentation of national tourism.

The Chief Executive Officer of GATE, Khem Lakain, said the tourism sector contributes around four per cent to the national economy and that could be easily increased to 10 per cent. For this, he added, the state should develop tourism infrastructure and produce skilled human power.

The participants said Nepal has a target of to bringing two million tourists annually by 2020. The country needs rigorous homework to produce skilled manpower.

Nepal has 10 five star hotels and around 300 smaller hotels including resorts and restaurants to serve facilities as per the international standard but they, too, have shortage of skilled human power.