POKHARA: The Gandaki Province government has announced plans to place greater emphasis on promoting domestic tourism in the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 BS through initiatives such as the ‘First Home, Then Abroad’ and ‘Lake to Lake’ programmes.
Unveiling the province’s annual policies and programmes in the Gandaki Provincial Assembly on Tuesday, Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatta said the government will implement a ‘One District, One Tourist Destination’ policy to promote tourism across all districts of the province.
The initiative will also focus on promoting cultural festivals, indigenous traditions, local products, and lifestyles.
The government has also planned to upgrade and commercialize homestay and farm-stay facilities to improve visitor experiences and generate income for local communities.
As part of efforts to strengthen religious tourism, the province will develop a pilgrimage circuit connecting major religious sites including Damodar Kunda, Muktinath Temple, Devghat, and Trivenidham, according to the policy document. Tourism infrastructure and emergency rescue services will also be expanded.
Among major projects, the government aims to complete the ‘Round Fewa: View Fewa’ project. Plans to construct a pedestrian selfie bridge over Fewa Lake and a glass bridge at Rupa Lake have also been included in the annual programmes.
The policy further includes upgrading trekking routes in the Manaslu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Dhorpatan regions.
To boost international tourism, the provincial government has set a target of doubling tourist arrivals from India and China within the next five years through the ‘Visit Gandaki: Enjoy Nature and Culture’ campaign.
The government will also focus on promoting adventure tourism while strengthening safety measures for visitors.
Comment