A two-day Tourism Photo Journalism Training has commenced in Janakpurdham with the objective of strengthening the promotion of tourist destinations across Madhesh Province through powerful visual storytelling.
The training is being organized under the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP), a joint initiative of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the National Forum of Photo Journalists (NFPJ) and the Nepal Journalists Federation, Dhanusha Branch. The programme began on Sunday, Poush 13.
Visual Storytelling to Highlight Madhesh’s Tourism Potential
STP Project Manager Dharmaraj Dawadi said the training aims to introduce Madhesh Province’s religious, cultural, historical and natural destinations to both national and international audiences through effective visual communication.
He emphasized that Janakpurdham is not limited only to the Janaki Temple and religious tourism, but is deeply connected with Mithila culture, art, civilization, heritage sites and community lifestyles that offer countless untold tourism stories. Dawadi highlighted that photojournalists play a vital role in transforming these stories into compelling visual narratives.
He further stated that the role of media is becoming increasingly decisive in sustainable tourism development and expressed confidence that the training would support destination branding and help connect local tourism products to the global market.
Photo Journalism as Backbone of Tourism Promotion
NFPJ President Pradeep Raj Onta described photojournalism as the backbone of tourism promotion and stressed that learning is a continuous process. He said that photographs capturing the cultural, religious and natural narratives of districts such as Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari can significantly strengthen Madhesh Province’s position on the global tourism map. According to him, the training will help bring overlooked destinations, cultures and community stories into the spotlight through professional visual documentation.
Training Sessions and Facilitators
During the training, NTB Communication Consultant Dilip Prakash Karki provided sessions on the fundamentals of tourism journalism, NTB’s promotion strategies, destination branding and the effectiveness of visual storytelling.
Similarly, trainer Sunil Chudamani Bajracharya facilitated sessions on the history and technical aspects of photojournalism, photo features and the structure of visual storytelling, helping participants enhance both conceptual understanding and practical skills.
Field Visit and Practical Learning
On the second day, participants will engage in practical photo-story exercises and conduct field visits to major tourism and cultural sites in and around Janakpurdham. These field activities are designed to help trainees apply their learning in real settings. Around 30 photo and tourism journalists from various districts of Madhesh Province are participating in the training.
Boost to Destination Branding and Local Tourism
Training Coordinator and NFPJ Treasurer Pradeep Raj Shrestha expressed confidence that the programme will significantly contribute to visual documentation, destination branding and local tourism promotion of both emerging and established tourist sites in Madhesh Province. He added that the training will help preserve cultural narratives and enhance Madhesh’s tourism visibility through impactful and responsible visual storytelling.
