Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to boost the tourism industry. Speaking at an interaction program on Sudurpaschim Province’s Tourism Development Strategy held today, Minister Pandey noted that government initiatives alone are insufficient to drive tourism growth without active participation from private stakeholders.
Highlighting Sudurpaschim’s geographical advantage of being connected to India in the south and west, the minister said the region holds significant potential as a tourist destination. He stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment for developing necessary infrastructure and revealed ongoing efforts to introduce updated tourism and aviation policies to meet contemporary demands.
Strategic Focus on Kailash Mansarovar Route
Sudurpaschim Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah underlined the need for policy reforms to enhance tourism development in the province. He mentioned that the under-construction Seti Lokmarg, which could connect Sudurpaschim to China, has the potential to attract a large number of international tourists traveling to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepal. Shah also disclosed that he had discussed this opportunity with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on multiple occasions.
Private Sector’s Recommendations
Representatives from the private sector at the event highlighted several suggestions to promote tourism, including:
- Infrastructure development and upgrades.
- Establishing a route to Kailash Mansarovar via Urai Bhanjyang.
- Upgrading Gauriphanta and Banbasa border points.
- Constructing a dry port to facilitate trade and tourism.
- Strengthening the aviation sector.
- Implementing policy reforms for smoother operations.
Government Initiatives and Challenges
Secretary Pramod Bhattarai from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment shared insights on the provincial government’s activities in promoting tourism. He mentioned that despite implementing a tourism master plan and tourism-related laws, budget constraints have hindered significant progress in infrastructure development. While the federal government has declared Sudurpaschim Province as a religious tourism zone, the required infrastructure to support this vision remains underdeveloped.
Stakeholder Engagement
The event saw participation from several key stakeholders, including Provincial Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment Laxman Kishor Chaudhary, former Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal, Provincial Assembly members Dharma Raj Pathak and Shiva Singh Oli. They offered various suggestions for enhancing tourism in the region.
Officials from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation and its affiliated bodies, along with private sector representatives, also actively participated in the program, reinforcing the need for collective action to unlock Sudurpaschim’s tourism potential.
