Nepali to open Visit Lumbini Year-2012

Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to inaugurate the Visit Lumbini Year-2012 (VLY) amid a grand ceremony on Jan. 14 in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha in southern Nepal. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has said that formal announcement of completion of Nepal Tourism Year-2011 and launching of Tourism Vision-2020 will be on the same day as part of the government's commitment to tourism development. VLY is aimed to unite all people to work towards creating a peaceful world through Buddha's message of peace and making Lumbini the most sought-after destination of pilgrimage for Buddhists across the world. Top leaders of the major political parties, Buddhist scholars, and dignitaries are likely to attend the opening ceremony. The Tourism Vision- 2020 has intended to lure 2 million tourists to Nepal so as to create jobs and help reduce poverty and enhance economic prosperity of the country.