The Bagmati Province government has earmarked NPR 2.46 billion for culture, tourism, and cooperatives in the fiscal year 2081/82. In the budget presented on Saturday by Finance and Planning Minister Jagannath Thapaliya, it was announced that the provincial tourism year 2024 would continue, with efforts to promote tourist destinations and activities within the province.
The minister revealed plans to identify additional tourist destinations and prepare travel guides to facilitate tourist visits. To attract more international tourists, the province will organize tourism-focused roadshows, fairs, and festivals in major cities of neighboring countries.
Minister Thapaliya outlined the development of a cultural heritage circuit connecting Janakpur, Lumbini, Devghat, and Muktinath in coordination with other provinces. An eco-tourism circuit linking Sauraha, Meghauli, Madi, and Siraichuli in Chitwan will also be created. Additionally, a heritage circuit combining Patan Durbar Square, Basantapur, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, and Changu Narayan will be developed, along with a Shiva circuit linking Pashupatinath, Doleswor, Dattatreya, Suwarneswor, Anantalingeshwar, Santaneswor, and Mahadev Pokhari in Kathmandu.
The provincial government plans to develop Sauraha, Meghauli, Golaghat in Chitwan, Nagarkot in Bhaktapur, and Sailung in Dolakha as open film shooting locations. NPR 50 million has been allocated to establish an endowment fund for the preservation, promotion, and conduct of various festivals and events in Bagmati Province. The budget also includes provisions for research and studies on the art, culture, language, scripts, ethnic groups, religion, and musical instruments within the province.
The budget also allocates funds for the establishment of a revolutionary memorial museum to reflect the history of political revolutions and changes in Nepal. To extend tourists’ stays and increase per capita spending, the government plans to enhance tourism infrastructure and develop Bagmati Province as an attractive tourist destination. Minister Thapaliya stated, “We have allocated a budget for feasibility studies to identify special tourist areas in each electoral constituency of the provincial assembly and to implement integrated tourism development programs.”
The minister stressed the need for policies to preserve both tangible and intangible cultural heritage within the province. This includes cataloging, conserving, and promoting intangible cultural assets such as ethnic languages, literature, philosophy, culture, arts, traditional instruments, music, dance, and drama, with active community participation.
