Dhorpatan hunting reserve, best for tourism
Gandaki, 28 January: As Gandaki Province is a province with great tourism potential, emphasis has been placed on taking its tourism potential to the international tourism market. Participants at a provincial-level economic diplomacy program organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pokhara on Monday emphasized the need to utilize the province’s tourism potential and reach the international market.
Stating that Gandaki is a province with great tourism potential, the participants of the program said that all three levels of government should increase their activity towards increasing the economic status of the locals by taking the tourism potential of the region to the international tourism market and creating employment opportunities.
At the program, Gandaki Province Chief Secretary Raghuram Bista pointed out the need to utilize our tourism potential with a positive mindset. He expressed confidence that if all the concerned bodies develop a system to maintain data from their respective sides, the problems seen in this regard will be resolved.
Laxman Khanal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed the view that the potential in the tourism sector can be revealed with the support and cooperation of all. He said that the ministry is also taking forward various programs for the international marketing of tourism and will facilitate the development of this sector as per the need.
Provincial Tourism Secretary Kuman Singh Gurung informed that they are moving forward in collaboration with tourism-related organizations to promote tourism and create employment opportunities. Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province Acting Office Chief Navin Pokharel said that the team of French citizen Maurice Herzog first climbed Annapurna I, starting mountain tourism from this province. He informed that planned work is being done to promote tourism in the area.
Stating that Gandaki Province is unique as a destination where one can see the mountains while wearing a T-shirt, Pokharel mentioned that tourist spots from Kaligandaki to Damodarkunda and Dhorpatan are located in this region. Pointing out the need for all concerned parties to take initiatives to solve problems including lack of reliable data and infrastructure, he stressed on the need to utilize the diverse tourism diversity.
Laxmi Prasad Tripathi, advisor to the Gandaki Province of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that there is a lack of reliable data and mentioned that the problem has arisen due to open borders and other reasons. He said that the government should emphasize on easy marketing of the produced goods along with determining the price of farmers’ produce. He pointed out the need to utilize skilled human resources domestically and collect taxes levied on businesses through a single-door system.
Krishna Prasad Acharya, President of Trekking Agencies Association Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki, opined that the role of diplomatic missions abroad is important in the overall development and promotion of the tourism sector.
Senior tourism entrepreneur Bishwa Shankar Palikhe, Pokhara Tourism Council General Secretary Jeevan Raj Sapkota, tourism experts Vasu Tripathi, Dipendra Pahari, former Pokhara Tourism Council Chairman Pom Narayan Shrestha, Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry General Secretary Januka Parajuli, and Hotel Association Pokhara Chairman Laxman Subedi, among others, shared their views.
