Nepal has launched an initiative to help lure more Chinese travellers by offering free Mandarin language training to tourism operators.
Nepal is working with the Chinese ambassador’s office to set up a six-month language training programme.
The first group of 40 Nepalese tour operators and travel entrepreneurs have been selected for the training.
The country can bank up to $22 billion every year if Nepal can attract up to one million Chinese tourists, said Chinese ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong.
Currently it receives about 125,000 Chinese visitors a year.
Maniraj Lamichhane, director at the Nepal Tourism Board said the aim is to train at least 200 tour operators in Mandarin over the next few years.
