Nepal urges cross-border tourism boost

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, POKHARA (NEPAL).29 SEPTEMBER 2022: As Chief Minister of Gandaki Province in Nepal Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel asked Indian journalists to visit Muktinath and write about the temple for the development of Cross-Border Tourism, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has started rethinking on its promotion. 

It may be noted here that several journalists from Nepals bordering states in India attended a programme, following invitation from the NTB, as the state government and the ministry of  tourism celebrated World Tourism Day at Pokhara in association with the Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) and stakeholders of the tourism industry on 27 September. 

Significantly, the Nepali government has been constructing a four-lane road, connecting Muktinath from Pokhara, for better connectivity. 

"This road helps overall business with China and facilitates trade between India and China too through Nepal. And in terms of tourism, it will help potential travellers to Mansarovar from India to make easier and shorter mutes to reach there. The border with China is 236 km away from Pokhara along the road. 

Moreover, it can help Chinese and other tourists in visiting Nepal after their visit to China," Manager, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in Pokhara, Nabin Pokharel, said. "Muktinath is a symbol of tolerance and unique representation of the Hindu and Buddhist religions. It is a very revered place for all Hindus and especially a must-visit place for Vaishnavites and for those who are observing their spiritual faith in accordance with the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. 

They have shown their dedication through Akshardham and many other temples in abroad too. They are a very affluent and spiritual society too," Mr Pokharel said. 

Mr Pokharel, who has been working with the NTB for 22 years, and has visited countries like the US, Europe, Japan and China, has good understanding of the Indian and Bangladesh tourism market, is now working in the Gandaki Province for over a year. 

"As the chief minister has said journalists should visit Muktinath and write on the destination, we will focus on promotion Muktinath with special videos and write-ups for journalists in India, and we will focus our efforts in Gujarat too," he said. 

"NTB has planned to showcase the place. We will keep on promoting our tourism products through familiarization tours of journalists and through business-to-business interactions between Nepali travel trade and potential buyers," Mr Pokharel said, adding, "As the NTB has been entrusted with the responsibility of promoting Nepal in the international tourism market, we devise our special activities along with discussions with the private sector of Gandaki Province." 

According to him, they have already started doing so, and last year all foreign diplomatic representatives visited Nepal and helped promotion of the country. 

On the issue of connectivity, Mr Pokharel said: "We are going to open the international airport from January 1, 2023. Provincial Ministries, Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, Tourism stakeholders are working on their respective responsibilities to meet the target."