Nepal officially launched The Nepal Tourism Year-2011, a media campaign gravitated towards welcoming 1 million tourists to visit the country during the year 2011. The launching took place at Dasarath stadium in the capital amid much extravaganza and fanfare on February 25, 2011 on Friday. President Dr Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the event, which is also being attended by the Vice-president, Prime Minister, Constituent Assembly Chairman, United Nation World Tourism Organisation Secretary General and tourism ministers of SAARC Countries. Over 25,000 guests attended the five and a half hour long function. The ceremony is also replete with various performances by Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and college and school students including NATHM numbering around 6,000. An air show of motor paragliding was also  demonstrated by 21 pilots during the occasion. The function exhibited a glimpse of various cultural processions and  programs, which elucidates natural and cultural richness of Nepal.

The NTY, with a slogan "Together for Tourism", is being celebrated with the private sector service providers revealing different programs at individual as well as regional level to  ensure the success of the mega campaign. This is the second time Nepal is marking tourism year to bolster the tourism industry, which is also supporting the country's economy. The country had celebrated 1998 as Visit Nepal Year during which 463,684 tourists visited the country.