The Nepali Embassy held a seminar to attract tour companies here to offer more packages to Nepal.

The country of 27 million people receives around half a million tourists each year, but is trying to attract more to visit world-renowned sites such as the birthplace of the Shakya Muni Buddha and Mount Everest in the Himalayas.

Tourism is already forms a large part of the country’s economy, creating an estimated 548,000 jobs.

Visitors contribute around 3 percent of the country’s GDP, but the newly-formed government hopes to double this to 6 percent by the end of this year.

The country contains 8 out of 14 highest peaks of above 8000 meters in the world as well as 10 national parks, 20 protected sites wildlife reserves and one hunting reserve.

Nepali charge d’affaires Raja Ram Bartaula said that the new government was finalizing a peace process. The country has been divided by Maoist rebel incursions and civil war over past decades, but is now working on a new constitution.