The South Asian countries’ Tour Operators Conclave convened by the Ministry of Tourism of India in New Delhi on July 06 urged countries in the region to set-up a joint forum to promote tourism.

The event was attended by about 45 participants from eight countries of the region, including policy makers and private stakeholders of the tourism industry.

The conclave deliberated ways to promote travel within the region by removing the current entry barriers. It was focused on various strategies to promote tourist destinations and products in the SAARC region.

Representatives from Nepal, Afghanisatan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka made their presentations at the conclave.

As per UNWTO report the international tourist arrivals to Asia and the Pacific are projected to increase from 204 million in 2010 to 535 million in 2030.

The share of international tourism to emerging economies will be bigger compared to advanced ones. Most of the new arrivals will be to the destinations in Asia in particular.

During the year 2011, UNWTO estimates that Asia and Pacific saw a 7 percent increase in tourist arrivals led by South Asia and South East Asia.

As per PATA report this region is poised to emerge as the fastest growing in the Asia and Pacific region. Hence, this conclave assumes a significant dimension.

The first SAARC Tour Operators Conclave is indeed a big step in the right direction and is expected to contribute to business and opportunities for economic development and employment generation in the region. Nepalnews.com