It is a happy thing that an international airport has been opened in the name of Gautama Buddha in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. The airport at Bhairahawa has been operational for about two years. The office is gorgeous. There are staff as needed. Non-regular flights only.

Businessmen here conducted a pressure program for regular flights from the airport. The desire of the general public and investors is that the airport should be fully operational soon. Because, many people like us in the 'hospitality' sector are targeting the airport and investing in hotels and restaurants. Many new hotels have opened. The hotels that are already in operation have also increased their capacity. We have spent to make the hotel attractive. We have invested so that domestic and foreign guests will come. 

After Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu is also the entry point for many tourists. Visitors continue to come to Lumbini and nearby tourist destinations through the small channels of West Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu. There are many residents of neighboring countries who come through the land crossing. Gautam Buddha International Airport is the gateway for tourists from third countries to Lumbini and the country as a whole. With the addition of the word

international, the country gets a position in the foreign market. Any country builds an international airport after identifying the potential. Here too, an airport has been built targeting Buddhist devotees coming from the international level. When tourists from the Buddhist countries of the world will directly descend on Bhairahawa, then Lumbini and the surrounding tourism sector will 'boom'. Therefore, it is necessary for this airport to operate at full capacity. The closest destination to the international airport is Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. From a religious point of view, although Gautama Buddha did not call himself God, Buddhists consider him to be a form of God. The fact that Siddhartha Gautam was born in Lumbini instead of being born in Kapilvastu's palace at Tilaurakot made the region known to the world. Also, we need to understand that Roopandehi has been given an opportunity as a tourist.

As the airport at Bhairahawa is not operating now, most of the tourists are coming here by land from neighboring India. If the plane lands at our airport, many Buddhists will go to tourist destinations in India from here. It will make the journey of the Buddha Circuit a breeze. Now the journey of the circuit can be done without starting from the place of birth. In India, devotees arrive at the birthplace of the Buddha only after visiting the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, imparted knowledge to his disciples, and died. As soon as flights to Bhairahawa become regular, Buddhists can start their journey from the birthplace of the Buddha and reach the place of his death.

Tourism business is not the only one who will benefit from regular flights/landings at the airport. From here, common people who travel to different countries for foreign employment will get facilities close to their homes. Now the compulsion to go to Kathmandu to travel abroad will end. Since the airport is located in the middle of the country, it is certain that more and more people will benefit from it. First of all, those who want to come to Buddha Bhoomi will have the opportunity to land directly at Bhairahawa. Because of this economic, social and cultural promotion is possible. There is no doubt that the airport is the cornerstone of tourism development. More hotels will be built at the airport as flights become regular. Although many investors have prepared to build a hotel, they have not proceeded with the work since the airport is not operational. How many hotels are under construction. Since construction has been completed, no guests have been received. A travel agency will be opened along with the hotel. This will lead to development. Offices of various airlines, labor offices are also opening. It is sure to create more jobs. 

An example can be seen at London's Heathrow Airport. It is the busiest airport in the world. 76,000 people are working directly at the airport. Therefore, if the airport here is operational, many people in this area will surely get employment. This airport, invested by the Nepalese government with a loan, should be operated anyway. As the international convention center and international exhibition center will also be operated after the international airport is near, it will automatically benefit the hotel business here. The number of people from different countries coming here to hold seminars and programs at the exhibition venue is sure to increase once the planes start operating.

Rupandehi is considered the financial capital of Mofsal. Therefore, the simple answer to the question of what should foreign investors invest in here is that an international airport should be opened. It is also easy to export goods from here. How many things need to be exported on time, cargo flights facilitate. The airport was also built keeping Buddha's birth place as the center point. Therefore, as people from all over the world, including Nepal, reach Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj in Mecca, a Hajj committee is formed to send them there. Similarly, if Lumbini can be made an important area of ​​Buddhism, it will certainly help in promoting tourism. 

If we can establish the feeling that Buddhist pilgrims must visit once in their life, devotees will come to stay here. The more devotees will come here, the more airlines will add flights. Local, state and federal governments should be involved in creating that environment. Private sector like us should join hands to create such an environment. Another option is that operating a maternity home in Lumbini could support the airport and tourism. Those who think that it would be good to have children in the place where Gautama Buddha was born, come to Lumbini by plane. The hotels they use, the goods they buy, etc. contribute to the economy here. It is felt that the process required by the government level to operate the airport, the part of infrastructure construction has not been done with that much care. It is natural that foreign airlines are not interested in sending their planes and staff to the airport without infrastructure such as not only airline offices, but also rest rooms, comfortable health care centers, cafeterias, good internet facilities, suitable places for them to stay, taking into account the fact that people have to wait for hours. It is not appropriate to tell the airlines to come and fly without completing the infrastructure.

If the way of movement of foreign people is opened, the local level here will be able to introduce them to those people, and if they can market their local products, it will help to introduce Nepal and Lumbini province under Rupandehi in the international market. For example, the municipalities, heritage areas in rural villages, sports grounds, star hotels are all ways to increase tourists. If the match is held at the stadium, the players will land here, foreign spectators will also come there. Since there are various peaceful and warm areas, if we can make a meditation center in them, people who are looking for peace will surely come here. If the airport is opened when people are afraid to travel, they can come here directly by ship.

Now people's attention is going towards organic products and food. We have the ability to market it. All kinds of Raithane crops are produced here, the reserve of herbs is in our country, it will help to introduce it to the world. The duty of building an airport is the responsibility of the government, it is necessary for us, the private sector, to take initiatives on our part to make it operational. Industrial associations, hoteliers, tours and travels, etc., who have been partnering with Indian organizations for years, can also express the opinion that it would be easier for Indian friends to have an air route, and if their government does not pave the way, it can be discussed so that they can play a role in stopping it. Writing slogans on black banners and staging sit-ins is definitely not the solution. I think that in the field of peace, not a black banner, but the government should be ready to come up with a solution that can be done in this way. Just putting everything on the government and protesting is not a solution to any problem. We have seen a lot of ways, if we can submit it with arguments, it will cost the relevant agencies to work, if not, the dream of operating the airport and running the tourism sector that we want, may be crushed. 

The country running on remittances will get some relief if the airport is opened here. Jobs will be created. Lumbini, recognized by the UN as an organization of harmony and peace, is located here. Even if there are only branches of such organizations here, if they are opened, it will help in the development of tourism here. The airport looks just like a government office. From 10 to 5 the plane came and went, office hours were over. If the airport comes into operation here, there is a great possibility to develop tourism by keeping the products produced locally. Now it is possible to operate the airport here only through diplomatic initiatives. For that, the government should cooperate with the private sector. A lot of charity can be received from the local government. Foreign airlines can invest in schools, health sector here. After the

airport is operational, we had to work with the idea that this airport will be small in order to carry it for a long time. Citizens here had to think about what they can do from their level. For example, if I can export the goods produced through this airport, I have to increase the production and production. I also have to try to produce things that I don't have but that I think are necessary. If discussions, conclusions and solutions can be found to solve the problem, it will not be difficult to operate Gautam Buddha Airport and promote tourism.