The 18th Chitwan Elephant and Tourism Festival will be held from Poush 11 to 15 to promote tourism in Chitwan. The event is aimed at boosting safari tourism while establishing Chitwan as a prominent tourist destination. The festival will take place in Sauraha and is being organized by the Regional Hotel Association Chitwan in collaboration with United Elephant Operation Cooperative Ltd. and the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal.
In a press conference held today, Ganga Giri, President of the Regional Hotel Association Chitwan, mentioned that this year’s festival would be unique and grander than previous editions. He emphasized that the festival would help promote tourism, especially through Chitwan National Park, attracting a significant number of tourists. According to Giri, the festival has historically led to a 25 to 30 percent increase in tourist arrivals each year.
Around 80 elephants, both privately operated and government-owned, will participate in various activities during the festival. The estimated cost of the event is approximately NPR 13.5 million.
Hikmat Singh Aire, Senior Director of the Nepal Tourism Board, highlighted the importance of the Elephant Festival in promoting tourism and stressed the need for collaboration between various stakeholders, including the Board, to market the event effectively. Binayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), expressed confidence that the festival would contribute to the overall development of Chitwan’s tourism, which is famous for its wildlife safari offerings. Bhesh Raj Duwadi, Coordinator of the Sauraha Tourism Promotion Committee, mentioned that the festival would help raise Sauraha’s international profile.
The event enjoys support from all levels of government, including the Ministry of Forests, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department, the Nepal Tourism Board, and Chitwan National Park. The festival has been an annual event since 1998 and continues to be a vital part of Chitwan’s tourism promotion.