Ambassador KIKUTA confirmed with Minister Ale the Importance of Revival of Tourist from Japan to Nepal

H.E. Mr. KIKUTA Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on the Hon. Mr. Prem Bahadur Ale, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in Singha Durbar today.
 
On this occasion, Ambassador Kikuta expressed his intention to focus on reviving tourism from Japan to Nepal now that the infections of Covid-19 in Nepal have been  winding down. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of the role of Hon. Minister Ale in this regard, since most of his assignments are related to the enrichment of Nepal's attractiveness, which fascinates foreign tourists, including Japanese.

Ambassador Kikuta spoke of Japan's continued support for the reconstructions of cultural properties from the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, the dispatch of cultural heritage advisors from Japan, and the strengthening of conservation and management of the Lumbini World Heritage Site. He also welcomed the increase of direct flights between Kathmandu and Narita to three flights per week starting in May. The Ambassador hoped that these will lead to the enhancement of Nepal's tourism resources and easier access to Nepal from Japan, which in turn will lead to an increase in the number of tourists from Japan.
 
During the meeting, Ambassador Kikuta and Hon. Minister Ale reaffirmed the importance of relationship between Japan and Nepal and the long history of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, which began with the visit of Kawaguchi Ekai to Nepal in 1899 and the visit of the first eight Nepali students to Japan in 1902.  They both commemorated the 120th anniversary of International Students Exchanges between Japan and Nepal.
 
Ambassador Kikuta and Hon. Minister Ale shared the view to continue to further enhance people to people exchanges between Japan and Nepal and strengthen the relationship between the two countries.