To integrate agriculture with tourism, a Rice Planting Festival was organized in Siddhalek, Dhading. The event, held in Bungchung, was part of the 21st National Rice Day celebrations, supported by Siddhalek Rural Municipality and organized by the Village Tourism Promotion Forum (VITOF) Nepal.
Inaugurating the festival, Siddhalek Rural Municipality Chairman Pashuram Khatriwada emphasized the municipality’s focus on prioritizing agriculture and tourism. “We are planning to launch a homestay program in Bhainse Ghalegaun to stimulate the local economy through agriculture and tourism,” he stated.
Dr. Ram Sharan Thapaliya, a central member of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and a tourism entrepreneur, expressed confidence that the Rice Planting Festival would significantly contribute to the development of tourism in Siddhalek.
Senior tourism entrepreneur and Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Dhungana praised VITOF Nepal’s role in promoting rural tourism by combining agriculture and tourism. Nilhari Bastola, President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), highlighted the need for VITOF to extend its reach to local levels across the country to develop rural tourism.
Other notable attendees, including Rural Municipality Vice-Chairperson Savita Aryal, senior tourism entrepreneur Chandra Prasad Rizal, former VITOF President Bodhraj Bhandari, TAAN General Secretary Binod Sapkota, and senior tourism entrepreneur Rajan Shinghdal, emphasized the importance of government support for the private sector in developing the tourism industry, which is a backbone of the country’s economy.
VITOF President Sakuntala Devkota shared that VITOF, established in 1997, has been working towards promoting rural tourism in Nepal by establishing homestays in various locations. VITOF has been organizing the Rice Planting Festival for the past 27 years and annually declares a destination village to further advance tourism promotion.
The festival serves as a platform to showcase the potential of agricultural tourism and to highlight the collaborative efforts required to boost the rural economy through sustainable tourism practices.
