The Nepali government is currently preparing for a new tourism policy based on the concept of government-private-public partnership, its Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami said.

Speaking at an interaction at the Reporters' Club here, Yami, quoted by China's XINHUA news agency that the new policy will focus on promoting the rural tourism and the identification as well as promotion of the new tourist destinations.

She said that the Nepali government is also planning to mark the year 2011 as the Visit Nepal Year, and is expected to draw at least one million tourists to Nepal.

On another issue, Yami said the government was ready to remain as a guarantor for the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to purchase two jets and a committee has already formed to advise the NAC on the type of jet to be purchased. She said the government was planning to hire jets until new planes are purchased.