With a view to promote regional cooperation in tourism development, the second Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectorial Technical and Economic Cooperation ( BIMSTEC) tourism ministers' roundtable meeting is being held in Kathmandu on Aug. 28-30.

Keeping in mind that multilateral efforts and regional cooperation could be more beneficial, the meeting will seek common agenda and program to promote tourism as a pertinent tool for socio-economic development in the member countries.

Nepali minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Pradeep Kumar Gyawali told reporters on Monday that the meeting is aimed at expanding and exchanging multisectoral cooperation among the member countries, particularly in reaping benefits of rich natural beauty and diverse cultural heritage, which are of huge tourism potentials.

"We are confident that all the BIMSTEC member countries can benefit a lot through proper exploitation of tourism potentials. Thus, we are proposing for the collective efforts and a concrete plan of action," Gyawali added.

According to Gyawali, "the event will extensively discuss on 10 main agendas which includes common travel visa for the citizens of BIMSTEC member counties on arrival for 30 days."

The meeting will also discuss on issuance of common driving license, setting up air link network and utilization of Asian Highway Network for the tourism promotion.

Joint tourism product development, packaging, marketing and promotion will also feature in the meeting, while further enhancement of eco-tourism and Buddhist circuit will be discussed extensively in order to promote tourism as an effective tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable socio-economic development of the region, he added.

As many as 28 foreign and over 50 Nepali delegates are taking part in the meeting.

The three-day meeting will conclude on Wednesday announcing the Kathmandu Declaration and adopting a plan of action.

BIMSTEC groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Nepal and Bhutan joined this sub-regional group in February 2004.

Source: Xinhua