Handicraft and tourism sectors are correlated – Experts

23 Feb '10

2 min read

During an interaction programme, the focus of the people associated with the handicraft sector was on the 'Interrelationship between Handicraft and Tourism industries and the impact on the economy'.

Bikash Ratna Dhakwa, President of the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN) while speaking at the programme stated that economic agendas of the country are impeded by the political agendas.

He informed that the handicraft sector contributes six percent to the GDP, but due to government's negligent attitude and political conditions, handicraft export declined by twelve percent as revealed by the five month's data of current fiscal as against the corresponding period in previous year.

Dr Pushpa Raj Rajkarnikar, former member of the National Planning Commission, while focusing on the theme at a seminar at the 8th Handicraft Trade Fair and 6th Craft Competition, stated that the tourism industry is occupied with roles like that of a leading employment generator, a foreign currency earner and that of handicraft industry's promoter.

He opined that the tourism and handicraft sectors are apparently linked and added that handicraft's greatly attract tourists who look upon it and purchase it as travel gifts or souvenirs.

Thus, Nepal's domestic handicraft market is lead by sales to tourists. It is believed that the volume of handicraft sales in domestic markets is double than that of exports. Also the tourists back home, tacitly promote handicrafts of the countries they visit, he added.

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