:: Xinhuanet - China :: Tourism contributes 17% to Nepal's GDP

KATHMANDU, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The tourism sector contributes a 17.11 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Nepal, a research reveals.

"The country's tourism sector earns over 47.6981 billion Nepalirupees (653.4 million US dollars) annually," said the Kathmandu Research Center in a report, which was available here Sunday.

The tourism sector provides direct employment to 300,000 people,while 500,000 others are involved in this sector, the report said,adding that if it is properly managed, tourism sector alone could generate employment to 6.675 million people.

The research on the basis of the center's studies of various economic parameters incorporates various sectors relating to tourism such as hotel sector, travel agencies, trekking, casino, mountaineering, national park, handicraft and village tourism.

Tourism is one of the major foreign currency earners for Nepal,which boasts of unique landscapes and cultures. In recent years however, the country's tourist industry suffered a downturn due to the anti-government insurgency.

With the downturn in the tourist industry due to violence, 20-80 percent of the country's industries have been affected, because tourism has a strong link with various other industries, the report said.

The report also suggests the government to promote village tourism, for over 60 percent of the tourists visiting Nepal prefer villages. Sphere: Related Content