Bhairahawa. Industrialists and businessmen of Rupandehi district have demanded the immediate operation of Gautam Buddha International Airport.

The airport located in Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district has not come into operation at full capacity even after a long time of its construction. Tourism entrepreneur Amit Gupta said that although more than one billion rupees has already been invested in the tourism sector, the investment is at risk due to lack of expected results.

Lumbini, Devdaha, Ramgram, Tilaurakot and areas around Rohini River are important destinations associated with historical, religious and Buddhist civilization. Although the operation of the international airport is expected to play an important role in the promotion of these areas, it has not been possible due to lack of effective initiatives for tourism promotion.

Netra Prasad Acharya, president of Siddhartha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the private sector was confident that the new government would play an effective role in tourism promotion and operation of airports. Stating that this area could be developed as a hub of Buddhist civilization, history and religious tourism, he expressed the belief that not only tourism promotion but also change in overall economic activities if the Gautam Buddha International Airport came into operation.

Madhu Prasad Panthi, president of Nepal Customs Agents’ Association, Bhairahawa, said that the new government should pay special attention to create infrastructure and environment to export goods produced from Rupandehi to the international market as Rupandehi is an important industrial zone of Nepal. He said that the industrial sector would be further strengthened if the export of goods produced in the Bhairahawa Industrial Corridor could be expanded.

He was of the view that it would help expand international trade if the operation of the airport and border point management were effective. According to the representatives of the private sector, the government is expected to take concrete initiatives to create investment-friendly environment, promote tourism, expand industries and develop infrastructure after the formation of a stable government. They expressed the belief that the operation of the Gautam Buddha International Airport would boost tourism in Rupandehi along with tourism development in the area.