The ‘Jau Hai Begnas Pokhara’ tourism promotion campaign, organized by the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Lekhnath, has been successfully concluded after a 10-day promotional tour across western Nepal. The campaign was held with the support of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Pokhara Visit Year 2025 Secretariat, with the objective of strengthening domestic tourism partnerships and promoting Pokhara’s Begnas region as a key destination.
Tourism Delegation Promotes Pokhara in Western Nepal
The 37-member tourism delegation, comprising tourism entrepreneurs and representatives from Lekhnath, traveled through major western regions, including Butwal, Bardiya, and Surkhet, to engage with local tourism stakeholders. The campaign aimed to build business connections, exchange tourism knowledge, and promote internal tourism through collaboration.
According to Bir Bhadra Kandel, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Lekhnath, the delegation held a series of discussions and interactive sessions with local tourism entrepreneurs before returning to Pokhara on Wednesday. “The campaign was an important step toward enhancing tourism partnerships between Pokhara and western Nepal. It helped in identifying new collaboration opportunities and fostering stronger regional tourism ties,” he said.
Meetings with Provincial and Local Tourism Authorities
The delegation organized separate interaction programs with tourism authorities and private-sector representatives at different locations. These included meetings at Butwal and Thakurbaba Municipality in Bardiya (Lumbini Province), and at the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forestry and Environment in Surkhet (Karnali Province).
According to Damodar Bhakta Thapa, Co-Coordinator of Pokhara Visit Year 2025, the discussions were centered on joint tourism promotion strategies, sustainable development, and experience sharing among stakeholders. “Our goal was to highlight Pokhara’s eco-tourism, lake tourism, and rural tourism potential while exploring ways to collaborate with the western region’s tourism operators,” he said.
Promoting Begnas and Rupatal as Key Attractions
During the interactions, the team from Lekhnath presented audio-visual materials showcasing the natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural richness of the Begnas and Rupatal lakes, both of which are listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The presentations emphasized the ecological significance of the Lekhnath area, which hosts seven lakes, and its potential for sustainable tourism and eco-friendly hospitality ventures.
Thapa further noted, “Through these engagements, we have established a framework for future partnerships. The response from the western tourism community has been very encouraging, and we are confident that this campaign will yield long-term results for Nepal’s domestic tourism growth.”
Experience Sharing and Site Visits
Apart from discussions and promotional events, the delegation also conducted site visits to major tourism attractions in the western region. These included Bardiya National Park, Kankrebihar Temple, Deutibajyai Temple, and Bulbule Lake in Surkhet. The participants exchanged experiences with local tourism entrepreneurs regarding sustainable tourism models, hospitality standards, and marketing approaches.
Suresh Lamichhane, General Secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Lekhnath, said the campaign not only promoted Pokhara as a must-visit destination but also showcased the rich cultural and natural diversity of western Nepal. “By visiting these places and holding dialogues, we learned about regional tourism strengths and identified ways to complement each other’s offerings. This initiative will certainly help expand Nepal’s domestic tourism network,” he added.
A Push for Domestic Tourism and Regional Synergy
The ‘Jau Hai Begnas Pokhara’ campaign is part of a broader effort under Pokhara Visit Year 2025 to promote internal tourism and foster cooperation among provinces. With growing interest in local travel experiences, eco-tourism, and sustainable hospitality, the campaign has inspired similar initiatives in other regions.
Officials from the Nepal Tourism Board commended the effort, stating that such region-to-region tourism engagements strengthen the national tourism ecosystem by encouraging local participation and entrepreneurship. The campaign also helped connect western tourism entrepreneurs directly with service providers from Pokhara, paving the way for package tours, joint marketing, and cross-promotional tourism circuits.
As the delegation returned to Pokhara, organizers expressed optimism that the campaign’s success would lead to a rise in domestic visitor flow to Begnas Lake and surrounding areas, further enhancing Pokhara’s reputation as a hub for eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and leisure travel.
