Only NRNs can help revive campaign

Send Home A Friend -- Nepal for all seasons', a state campaign launched on January 1, 2008, that failed to click is now getting a new angle. Nepal Tourim Board spokesman Aditya Baral said, "Along with Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs), we are preparing to revamp the old model into a new one that will be more scientific and systematic."

Either the campaign was floated without proper homework or the government lost interest in it over time. Baral said that Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 is the nation's brand gala and the campaign will be capitalised under the same programme in cooperation with NRNs. "We are into preparations for NTY 2011, but soon we will revise Send Home A Friend campaign," said Baral.

The campaign failed to elicit active participation of NRNs, NTB, the government and Nepalese embassies abroad.

The Nepali diaspora worldwide numbers around two million of which 1.5 million are in the labour market while the remaining are students or those having settled abroad. Therefore around five lakh of the Nepali diaspora can be roped in for the campaign.

Prithvi Subba Gurung, the then minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation, launched the campaign, which was intended for Nepali diaspora and diplomatic missions abroad.

The government to forge partnership with NRNs in different parts of the world and get their support in promoting Nepal's tourism sector launched the campaign, which was actively promoted in coordination with NTB and NRNA.

It was announced during the third NRNA conference here in October 2007. Internationally launched in London on November 17, 2007, the campaign started on January 1, 2008, after launch of its official website www.sendhomeafriend.com on December 31, 2007.