Kathmandu. Minister for Culture and Tourism of Bagtami Province Suresh Shrestha said Thamel has made Nepal famous in the international arena.

Speaking at the 30th and 31st annual general meeting and election of Thamel Tourism Development Council here today, he said that Thamel’s contribution to the development of Nepal’s tourism sector was significant.

The Bagmati Province has allocated Rs 4 billion for the fiscal year 2083÷84 for tourism promotion and infrastructure development, Minister Shrestha said. Stating that some entrepreneurs who have been doing business in Thamel area are not in a position to pay the house rent, he said that the Council should work to solve the problems of such entrepreneurs.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16 ward chair Rojina Shrestha stressed that the Council should work for the safe, systematic and technologically advanced Thamel construction. According to him, the Thamel region has been helping to make Nepal known in the world arena.

Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) President Kumar Mani Thapaliya said that most of the foreign tourists visiting Thamel once take a visit to Thamel and lately it has become congested. He was of the view that Nepal’s tourism sector would not pick up momentum until investment increased in the aviation sector.

Council Chair Dhruba Adhikari said the council was collaborating with entrepreneurs and landlords for the development of Thamel area. He said the federal government should develop Thamel as it is of international standard through a special plan.

Council’s former president Dr Ram Sharan Thapaliya, vice-president Sahadev Dhamala (Bimal) and general secretary Badri Timilsina said that Thamel area should be developed as a special tourism destination. More than 1,500 house owners and entrepreneurs are associated with the Thamel Tourism Development Council which was established in 1992.