Newly elected NTB CEO Joshi pledges to meet Nepal's target of 1.6m tourists

KATHMANDU: Newly elected CEO of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Deepak Raj Joshi, has pledged to focus on meeting the government's target of welcoming 1.6 million foreign tourists to the country. This target was announced in the budget for the current fiscal year 2024/25.

Assuming office on Sunday for the second time, Joshi stated that his priorities will be to promote Nepal's tourism in the international market by identifying potential markets and areas. He is committed to supporting the effective implementation of the Visit Decade (2023-2031) announced by the government.

Joshi previously served as the CEO of the NTB in 2019, a year that saw the arrival of approximately 1.2 million foreign tourists. His term ended with the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Joshi emphasised that Nepal's tourism sector requires more research and studies, and he intends to address this gap as CEO. He has drafted a clear plan of action for the next four years and will focus on its implementation. He will soon unveil his working strategy for this period.

The NTB CEO expressed his commitment to further expanding Nepal's tourism in the international market in partnership with the private sector. He identified the shortage of required human resources as a major challenge for boosting Nepal's tourism industry and plans to work on increasing the workforce in cooperation with relevant agencies.

The 379th meeting of the NTB Board of Executive Committee on September 5 appointed Joshi to the post in accordance with the Nepal Tourism Board Act 2053 BS (1997) for a four-year term.

Joshi has been involved in the development, expansion, and promotion of the tourism sector for over two decades. He has served as the Destination Committee Chair for the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a founding executive member of the World Tourism Network, and the General Director at the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI). He has received various awards, including 'Champion In Challenge', 'Tourism Hero', 'Best CEO', and 'PATA Personality of the Year'.

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