Kathmandu, May 11: Nepal Day was organised in Germany recently to publicise the Visit Nepal Year 2020. The special event was organised by Germany-Nepal Friendship Association in association with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the Nepali embassy in Berlin and the Nepali Consulate General. It was held in Cologne.
The Nepal Day featured the presentation of various papers on the development of tourism in Nepal, a cultural show, screening of documentaries and a presentation with introduction of all the seven provinces of Nepal. The speakers of the programme stressed on development of infrastructures in all provinces for tourism promotion and on promotion and preservation of the art and culture of various ethnic communities.
Association president and Consular General Ram Pratap Thapa said the Nepal Day has been organised to motivate Germans to contribute to Nepal’s tourism and visit Nepal. He added that the Nepal Day event on different themes has been organised in Germany since the last 30 years and this year it has been held on the theme of Visit Nepal Year 2020. Patron of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Jiba Lamichhane spoke on Nepal’s tourism, possibilities of investment and the role of the diaspora in Nepal’s tourism development. NTB senior director Aditya Baral said the cooperation of all sides was needed for the development of tourism sector so as to contribute to the campaign of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.’
Various persons who had served as Germany’s ambassador to Nepal at different times put their views regarding the changed political context in Nepal, the potentials for investment and tourism heritages. A message of best wishes sent by incumbent German ambassador to Nepal, Roland Schäfer, was read out on the occasion. The event was attended by some 500 people, including Nepal’s ambassador to Germany, Ramesh Khanal, Counsellor Bishal Bhattarai, Cologne city mayor Hamswerner Bartsch, Nepalis currently residing in Germany and Nepal-loving Germans.
NTB member Avadesh Kumar Das made a presentation on the tourism prospects in all seven provinces, Ram Kumar Aryal of Chitwan National Park presented a paper on nature and wildlife tourism, photojournalist Kishor Kayastha presented a panorama picture of Mustang, journalist Akhanda Bhandari showed a documentary on the Chepangs of Nepal that he made and Sangeeta Das exhibited the Mithila art. Cultural programme featuring typical Nepali folk dances and culture was presented on the occasion. Various Nepali food items were also featured in the event. RSS
