Tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai’s recent opinion article was spot on (‘Tourism thrives on teamwork’, September 5). Nepal's natural beauty, culture and history should be opened up to the world in a coordinated manner, including learning from global practices in the field.

Tourism-related training must focus on consistent delivery, creativity and evolution in the already existing and newer eco-travel destinations. Nepal must now thrive using the tourism entrepreneurs' collective might and rich collective experience, as Bhattarai suggests, to contribute even more to the Nepali economy. As the tourism and civil aviation minister, Bhattarai has already started on the right track—introducing new landmark regulations to prevent overcrowding on the Everest circuit; banning non-renewable plastic bags in the Himalayan region, and attempting to promote the relaunch of Europe sector flights (by Nepali airliners) by bringing necessary reforms to CAAN. Seriously, Nepal has to think beyond Visit Nepal 2020 and make tourism promotion a part of its sustained economic diplomacy.

Surya B Prasai, Washington DC