KATHMANDU: The long-standing dispute between local hotels and monasteries in Lumbini has been resolved following an eight-point agreement reached on Wednesday.
The agreement was facilitated by the Lumbini Development Trust, with the involvement of the Lumbini Hotel Association, Lumbini Cultural Municipality, and the district administration.
The resolution came with the drafting of the ‘Lumbini Vihar and Pilgrim Management Procedure 2024’, designed to address conflicts surrounding the provision of hotel-like facilities for pilgrims staying in vihars (monasteries) within the Lumbini Master Plan area.
The agreement was finalized in the presence of lawmaker Basudev Ghimire and Dr Lharkyal Lama, Vice Chair of the Lumbini Development Trust.
The procedure ensures that only monks, lamas, economically disadvantaged pilgrims, and donors will be accommodated in monasteries, while hotels will extend a spiritual welcome to visiting pilgrims.
Ghimire stressed the importance of fostering a harmonious environment to enhance Lumbini’s reputation as an international tourist destination. Lama urged both parties to fully implement the agreement, highlighting that the dispute had been harming Lumbini’s international image.
Govinda Gyawali, President of the Lumbini Hoteliers Association, expressed satisfaction with the agreement and called for its honest implementation, stating that the misunderstanding between hotels and monasteries had finally been resolved.
This collaborative resolution aims to promote cooperation and positive publicity for Lumbini, ensuring a better experience for pilgrims and tourists alike.
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