KATHMANDU, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Some 40 tourism entrepreneurs in Nepal on Tuesday graduated from the course on basis Chinese language training provided by the Chinese government.
The six-month long "Second Chinese Language Training Course for Nepalese Tourism Professionals" was organized by the Chinese embassy in Nepal in coordination with Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Addressing the graduation ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal government officials expressed hope that the use of Chinese language will boost tourism of the country.
"Language not just connects two countries but also bring together diverse communities and culture together. We believe Chinese language learned by tourism professionals will facilitate tourism of Nepal," Maheshwar Neupane, secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation said.
The program comes at a time when the arrival of Chinese tourists is surging as China becomes the second largest tourism source for Nepal. In 2017, Nepal received nearly 1 million foreign tourists, with over 130,000 being Chinese nationals.
"We are organizing massive programs in 2018, focusing on China, to promote tourism," the secretary added.
Addressing the graduation ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong said the training program will enhance the cultural relations and bonding between the peoples of two nations.
"The language training will help the Nepali tourism professionals to provide high quality service to Chinese tourists and to boost tourism. I am hopeful that the professionals will work as messengers to promote mutual relations and friendship between the peoples of the two nations," Yu said.
A young tourism professional, who works in a hotel in Kathmandu, told Xinhua that "participation in the Chinese language training is the best decision. Since my organization receives many Chinese tourist groups, I will communicate with them in Chinese language and hope that I can serve better."
