Tourism top priority for Gandaki

Gandaki Province has given top priority to the development of the tourism sector.

In the budget for the financial year 2081/82, presented on Saturday, it is stated that promotional programs will be conducted to promote major tourist destinations and attract more domestic and foreign tourists to Gandaki Province. These initiatives will be carried out in collaboration with the private sector.

Additionally, various tourism packages will be prepared in collaboration with tourism entrepreneurs, and a ‘Home First, Abroad Later’ campaign will also be implemented. The budget includes provisions for the development of 11 tourist destinations, in cooperation with the tourist capital, Pokhara, and neighboring local levels.

According to the budget speech, funds have been allocated for the conservation, development, and upgrading of the trekking routes of Annapurna, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Mardi, and others under the campaign titled ‘Preservation of Trekking Routes – Promotion of Tourism’.

To develop religious tourism in the province, the budget includes allocations for the promotion of major religious tourist sites such as Gajendramoksha Dham, Muktinath, and Manakamana.

Infrastructure development and capacity development programs will be implemented for homestays to connect rural tourism with production and employment. Necessary funds have been allocated for the construction of lake-to-lake cycling routes in Jomsom of Mustang, Bandipur of Tanahun, and Pokhara to promote tourism through cycling.

The budget statement also mentions that funds have been allocated to conduct training programs for the production of human resources related to mountain climbing and to encourage and honor the people of the province who climb mountains.