The 19th edition of the Elephant and Tourism Festival has officially begun in Sauraha, Chitwan, one of Nepal’s prime tourist destinations. The festival commenced on Friday at the open grounds of Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest and will continue until Poush 13.
The grand opening ceremony was inaugurated by Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya, marking the start of one of the region’s most anticipated tourism events. Organizers stated that the primary objective of the festival is to increase both domestic and international tourist arrivals in Sauraha.
The current hotel occupancy rate in Sauraha stands at around 40 percent, and it is expected to rise by 20 to 25 percent during the festival period. To attract more visitors, hotels and restaurants in Sauraha have also introduced various discount schemes on food and accommodation services.
Elephants as Nepal’s Cultural Identity
Addressing the opening ceremony, Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Mr. Deepak Raj Joshi highlighted that these are not merely animals but are an integral part of Nepal’s culture and national identity. He emphasized that Nepal should not only be recognized globally as a country of natural beauty but also as a nation deeply connected to its cultural heritage, wherethey play a symbolic and traditional role.
He further clarified that while the number of African elephants is estimated to be around 1,000, the population of Asian elephants exceeds 40,000, underlining Nepal’s strong cultural association with Asian elephants.
Commitment to Conservation and Regenerative Tourism
Mr. Joshi stated that the Elephant and Tourism Festival serves as a powerful medium linking tourism with elephant conservation. He informed that a long-term roadmap will be prepared to strengthen conservation efforts and increase its populations, ensuring sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
He also noted that the Nepal Tourism Board is prioritizing regenerative tourism, committing to work collaboratively with all tourism stakeholders to ensure that tourism development benefits both local communities and natural ecosystems.
Throughout the festival, a wide range of cultural, sports, and entertainment programs are being conducted. On the first day, a ceremonial procession was launched from the main entrance of Chitwan National Park, followed by the penalty shoot-out competition and various cultural performances.
On the second day, the festival will feature a live Elephant Beauty Contest accompanied by traditional Mangaldhun music, the health camp, interaction programs, boat races, additional sports competitions, and cultural shows including folk Dohori performances.
Promoting Local Culture and Biodiversity
According to the organizers, the final day will include it’ss worship, an elephant picnic program, the announcement of results of various competitions, prize and certificate distribution, and a formal closing ceremony, followed by evening cultural performances.
Organizers further stated that the Elephant and Tourism Festival is expected not only to promote tourism in Sauraha but also to disseminate messages related to local culture, biodiversity conservation, and elephant protection at both national and international levels.
