Nepal starts tourism drive

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, for the launch of a year-long campaign to promote tourism in the country.

The authorities say they're confident the number of visitors this year will almost double, to about half a million.

A correspondent for the the BBC in Nepal says that with tourism providing the bulk of the country's foreign exchange earnings, the campaign has widespread support.

The government has already announced that it is to allow free climbing on nineteen mountains for which a permit costing up to several thousand dollars is usually required.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service