Newly appointed Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha on Saturday said the government will prioritise sports tourism in the country.

Speaking during an interaction titled ‘Prospects of sports tourism in Nepal’ organised by Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF)—the umbrella organisation of Nepali sports journalists—to mark the World Sports Journalists Day in Kathmandu, Shrestha highlighted the possibilities of sports tourism in the country. He said he would focus his attention on the same.

Shrestha is also the president of Nepal Olympic Committee.

“Nepal has an abundance of possibilities in sports tourism and I am focused on developing this sector,” said Shrestha.

“I have always stressed on bridging sports and tourism. The Covid-19 pandemic badly affected both tourism and sports in Nepal. Therefore, I want to take the two sectors together.”

“I have special plans for its development by rebuilding the tourism sector,” he added.

On the occasion, NSJF president Durga Nath Subedi pointed out the need for additional research in sports tourism and its prospects in the country.

Niranjan Rajbanshi—NSJF former president and the treasurer of Asian sports journalist governing body, AIPS Asia—said the appointment of Shrestha as minister has raised hopes that the sports tourism in the country would see a new beginning.

World Sports Journalists Day is observed worldwide on July 2 to recognise the efforts of sports journalists in bringing the sporting world closer to its spectators.