The 51st annual conference of International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Association ( IFACTA) kicked off in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Monday.

The conference is aimed to develop professionalism and to promote tourism and share high standard of knowledge and technology.

The five-day long conference is participated by the members and representatives from 73 countries. The IFATCA has 137 member states around the world.

It is the first time that the event was organized in the South Asian nation since the formation of the IFACTA in 1961.

Nepali Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai inaugurated the conference attended by Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation and other dignitaries.