Bhairahawa, Aug. 18 -- The opening of the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, slated for March next year at the latest, is expected to provide a much-needed leg-up to Visit Nepal 2020. But the private sector in this southern city is not sure how much the city can benefit from the new airport and the government's tourism push.

"Siddharthanagar Municipality is still preparing for the tourist inflow through the international airport," said Kul Prasad Neupane, chairperson of the Siddharthanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "But we still have some time before tourists begin to arrive through this airport." Although Bhairahawa's name was officially changed to Siddharthanagar, it is still widely referred to by its old name....