Call to Unlock Tourism Potential in Gandaki Province

Stakeholders have emphasized the urgent need to unlock the tourism potential of Gandaki Province, highlighting its vast yet underutilized resources.

Speaking at a program on economic diplomacy organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, participants stressed that Gandaki Province is home to numerous tourist destinations, many of which remain unexplored or lack international visibility. They argued that effectively promoting these destinations in the global market would generate employment opportunities and significantly boost the provincial economy.

The event underscored the importance of robust collaboration between the three tiers of government to achieve this goal.

Chief Secretary of Gandaki Province, Raghuram Bista, stressed the need to foster positive thinking and adopt systematic measures to explore tourism potential in the region. He highlighted the importance of maintaining proper record management within agencies to enrich tourism-related information.

Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Laxman Khanal, called for collective efforts to develop the province’s tourism sector. He noted that the ministry has initiated programs to promote Nepal’s tourism internationally and emphasized the need for further facilitation to achieve tangible results.

Kulman Singh Gurung, Secretary of the provincial tourism ministry, pointed out that promoting tourism activities would lead to significant job creation. He added that the ministry is actively working with various organizations to achieve this.

Officiating Chief of the Nepal Tourism Board in Gandaki Province, Nabin Pokhrel, highlighted the region’s diverse attractions, including the historic Annapurna-I ascent by French climber Maurice Herzog, as well as destinations like Kaligandaki and Dhorpatan. He underscored the importance of data collection, infrastructure development, and embracing tourism diversity to maximize the sector’s potential.

Krishna Prasad Acharya, Chairperson of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), urged Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad to play a proactive role in promoting domestic tourism globally.

The program concluded with a shared commitment to work collectively toward making Gandaki Province a premier destination for international tourists.