Three new trekking trails as a part of celebrating of 31st World Tourism Day was launched by Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation in Kathmandu on 27 September.

The routes – Panchpokhari-Bhairav Kunda in Sindhpalchowk, Dhorpatan in Baglung and Galeshwar of Myagdi – were unveiled with the objective of increasing number of tourists during Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Bhandari said the government was planning to construct new airports as well as reopen the closed ones to increase the flow of tourists to rural areas. He said the government was preparing to allocate the budget for the construction and upgrading of airports at Phoksundo in Dolpa and Suketar in Taplejung.Bhandari further added that airports in Langang in Rasuwa district and Dhorpatan in Balgung will come into operation soon.

During the event, Minister Bhandari also awarded Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu, Jaya Travels and Tours and Himalaya Expedition as the best performers in the hotel, travel and tour agency, and trekking agency categories respectively. The annual awards are given away to the companies with highest transaction of foreign currency as per the data provided to Nepal Rastra Bank.

Meanwhile, Thamel Tourism Development Council organized Thamel Carnival in the evening of September 27. The 31st World Tourism Day was also marked in cities like Pokhara and Biratnagar among others with the theme of ‘Tourism & Bio-diversity’.