“Katha Dekhi Yatra Samma” ( कथादेखि यात्रासम्म), was held on September 20, 2026, at Babai Resort in Thakurbaba, Bardiya, bringing together content creators, tourism entrepreneurs, local communities, government stakeholders, tourism associations, students and young people to strengthen the destination’s digital presence and tourism economy.
The initiative, organised by Thakurbaba Municipality with support from The Asia Foundation Nepal, seeks to connect local tourism businesses and communities with digital platforms, content creators and new audiences. It focuses particularly on strengthening the digital capabilities of homestays, small businesses, nature guides and tourism entrepreneurs while creating greater visibility and market access for Bardiya’s tourism products.
Building a Digital Bridge for Bardiya
Bardiya is known for its diverse tourism assets, including Bardiya National Park, Tharu culture and heritage, the Karnali River, wildlife experiences, local communities and nature-based tourism. However, many of these experiences have remained relatively underrepresented across digital platforms that increasingly influence how travellers discover and select destinations.
Bardiya Digital Mela aims to address this gap by creating a platform where local tourism experiences can be experienced firsthand, transformed into digital stories and shared with audiences in Nepal and abroad. The initiative follows the theme “Katha Dekhi Yatra Samma” ( कथादेखि यात्रासम्म), reflecting the idea of turning local stories and experiences into journeys that inspire visitors.
Three-Stage Digital Tourism Campaign
The initiative has been structured as a three-stage campaign rather than a conventional one-day tourism event. The first stage, a two-day Influencer Expedition, brings selected content creators to Bardiya to experience its wildlife, landscapes, communities, culture and tourism products firsthand. The creators document their experiences and share them through social media and other digital channels.
The second stage is the one-day Creator-Entrepreneur Confluence, which forms the central component of the Bardiya Digital Mela. The programme brings content creators together with tourism entrepreneurs, government representatives, tourism associations, students and young people.
The programme includes panel discussions, influencer talks, skill-building sessions, content creation activities, cultural performances and an exhibition. It also provides local tourism businesses with opportunities to interact directly with content creators and explore ways to reach new markets through digital platforms.
The third stage involves Post-Event Content Amplification, through which content generated during the expedition and the mela will continue to be distributed across digital platforms. Organisers expect this approach to maintain Bardiya’s visibility beyond the event and generate continued interest in the destination.
Focus on Local Tourism Entrepreneurs
A major objective of the initiative is to provide local tourism entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises with digital skills, greater visibility and access to new markets. The Asia Foundation Nepal is supporting digital capacity-building, innovation and market access under the initiative, with the broader objective of positioning Bardiya as an authentic, inclusive and sustainable tourism destination.
Speaking about the initiative, Deepak R. Joshi, Founding Member of the World Tourism Network and Former CEO of the Nepal Tourism Department, said Bardiya already has the stories, people and experiences required to attract visitors, but these stories need to reach wider audiences.
“Bardiya has the stories, the people and the experiences. What we need is to take these stories from local conversations to global journeys,” Joshi said, describing the digital mela as a step toward turning stories into journeys and journeys into opportunities.
He also appreciated the organisers, event curators and supporting partners for initiating a programme aimed at strengthening the future of Bardiya tourism and highlighting the destination as a green tourism destination.
Digital Exposure for Local Talent and Communities
Sunil Sharma, Officiating Director of the Public Relations and Publicity Department of the Nepal Tourism Department, said the initiative could provide greater exposure to local talent and communities while supporting tourism promotion in the region. Sharma said initiatives such as the Bardiya Digital Mela could encourage policymakers and tourism stakeholders to develop a more focused strategy for promoting Bardiya through digital platforms and social media. He also highlighted the significance of the theme “Katha Dekhi Yatra Samma” ( कथादेखि यात्रासम्म), saying it reflects the process through which travellers discover destinations, hear their stories, experience them and ultimately become motivated to visit.
Content Creators Take Bardiya to New Audiences
Content creators form a key component of the initiative, with participating creators experiencing Bardiya directly and developing stories around its nature, wildlife, culture, people and tourism products. The curated group includes Nepal8thwonder_, Milan, Mr Goley, Unlocked_ai Ashwin, Sweta_basnet, Dr Anikeet, Nischal Karki, RGB Nihal and Mira Khadka.
Local influencers participating in the initiative include Sanjana Chaudhari, Anuram Chaudhary, Khagendra Nepal, Manju Mahatara, Bibash Rana Magar, Bal Krishna Tharu, Deepak Rajbanshi, Shardul Bhattarai, Bhawany Pd Kandel and Govinda Tharu. Through their participation, the initiative seeks to develop an experience-led narrative around Bardiya, allowing potential travellers to discover the destination through firsthand stories rather than conventional promotional material. The involvement of local creators also provides an opportunity for communities to present their own perspectives and connect with a wider digital tourism ecosystem.
‘Nepal is Calling’ Message from Bardiya
Pranaya Sthapit said the initiative was also being used to send a broader message from Bardiya under the ‘Nepal Calling’ campaign. He said Nepal is open to visitors and that travelling to Nepal and spending within local communities can contribute to the recovery and strengthening of local economies.
According to Sthapit, however, slogans alone are not sufficient to influence potential travellers in today’s digital environment. Videos, national parks, Tharu culture, local food and authentic experiences are increasingly important in communicating what a destination offers. He said Bardiya’s challenge has not been a lack of world-class tourism resources but the absence of a strong “digital bridge” connecting those resources with global audiences, adding that the Bardiya Digital Mela is intended to help build that bridge.
A Working Platform Rather Than a Conventional Conference
Sthapit described the mela as different from a conventional formal conference, emphasising its practical and participatory nature. He said the event was designed as a “working session” where content would be produced, digital skills would be applied and direct connections between creators, businesses and tourism stakeholders would be established. The approach places practical content creation and networking at the centre of the programme, allowing tourism entrepreneurs and creators to work together rather than limiting the event to speeches and presentations.
Tourism Partners Join the Initiative
Buddha Air is the Travel Partner of Bardiya Digital Mela, while Storm Communications Nepal is the Event Partner. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Thakurbaba Municipality and The Asia Foundation Nepal. The partnership brings together local government, development partners, tourism businesses, private-sector stakeholders and the creator community around the objective of increasing Bardiya’s digital visibility and strengthening connections between local tourism businesses and potential visitors.
Creating a New Digital Tourism Narrative
Bardiya Digital Mela represents an effort to integrate nature, culture, community-based tourism and digital storytelling into destination promotion. As travellers increasingly use videos, social media, recommendations and creator-generated content to discover destinations, the initiative seeks to place local tourism entrepreneurs and communities at the centre of Bardiya’s digital narrative.
By connecting local experiences with content creators and digital audiences, the mela aims to ensure that Bardiya is not only promoted as a destination but also experienced, documented, and discovered through authentic stories. With “Katha Dekhi Yatra Samma” ( कथादेखि यात्रासम्म) as its central theme, the initiative seeks to turn Bardiya’s existing tourism stories into digital journeys and create new opportunities for local businesses and communities.
