Karnali Province is preparing to host its first-ever international tourism conference with the objective of promoting tourism development, attracting investment, and strengthening international cooperation in Nepal. The three-day conference will take place in Birendranagar from Jestha 8 to 10 and is being jointly organized by the Nepal Tourism Board and Birendranagar Municipality in coordination with the Hotel Entrepreneurs Federation Karnali Province.
Organizers have described the conference as a landmark initiative aimed at positioning Karnali Province as an emerging tourism and investment destination on both national and international platforms. The event is expected to bring together tourism entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, travel experts, media representatives, vloggers, and development stakeholders from Nepal and abroad.
Focus on Tourism Promotion and Sustainable Development
The conference is being organized with a strong focus on showcasing Karnali’s immense tourism potential and encouraging sustainable economic development in the region. Stakeholders believe that Karnali, despite being rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage, remains largely underexplored compared to other tourism destinations in Nepal.
The event will highlight opportunities for tourism promotion, infrastructure expansion, entrepreneurship, agriculture-based industries, and sustainable development projects. Organizers say the conference will also serve as a platform for discussing strategies to improve connectivity, investment climate, and tourism services in the province.
According to organizers, Karnali possesses extraordinary potential in eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, and religious tourism. The province is home to several iconic destinations, including Rara Lake, Shey Phoksundo National Park, and Sinja Valley, which have the potential to attract a growing number of international visitors.
Participation Expected from India and NRN Community
A major highlight of the conference will be the participation of tourism and business representatives from neighboring India, particularly from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi. Organizers believe that strengthening cross-border tourism cooperation can help expand tourist flow and investment opportunities between Nepal and India.
Significant participation is also expected from the Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) community. Organizers and local stakeholders see the NRN community as a key partner in Karnali’s future development. Their international exposure, business experience, investment capacity, and global networks are expected to create new opportunities for tourism promotion and economic collaboration in the province.
Stakeholders have emphasized that NRN investment could play a transformative role in sectors such as hospitality, aviation, transport, infrastructure, agro-tourism, renewable energy, and local entrepreneurship. The conference aims to encourage NRNs to explore long-term investment partnerships in Karnali.
B2B Meetings and Destination Showcases Planned
The conference will feature a wide range of activities designed to promote networking and collaboration among tourism stakeholders. Organizers have planned business-to-business (B2B) meetings, networking sessions, destination presentations, and technical discussions focusing on tourism development strategies.
Participants will also be taken on visits to important heritage and tourism sites in Karnali to provide firsthand experience of the province’s natural and cultural attractions. Travel vloggers and media representatives attending the conference are expected to help promote Karnali’s tourism potential to wider national and international audiences through digital and mainstream media platforms.
Experts participating in the event are also expected to discuss ways to improve tourism infrastructure, develop quality hospitality services, and strengthen sustainable tourism practices in the region.
Call for Investment-Friendly Policies
Stakeholders involved in the conference have highlighted the need for investment-friendly government policies to accelerate development in Karnali Province. They have stressed the importance of introducing tax incentives, investment grants, long-term land lease facilities, investment security mechanisms, and a one-window service system for investors.
Discussions during the conference are also expected to focus on Special Economic Zones (SEZ), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, and strategies to improve ease of doing business in Karnali. Organizers believe that such policy reforms could significantly enhance investor confidence and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Local business leaders have stated that improving infrastructure, transportation, communication systems, and tourism facilities will be crucial in unlocking Karnali’s full economic potential.
Long-Term Vision for an International Tourism Hub
Organizers have clarified that the conference is not intended to be a one-time event but rather the beginning of a long-term initiative to establish Karnali as an international tourism and investment hub. There are plans to develop the event into an annual international tourism and investment conference in the coming years.
Tourism entrepreneurs and policymakers believe that the conference can help create a new identity for Karnali Province by connecting its tourism opportunities with global markets. They also expect the event to contribute to employment generation, local entrepreneurship, infrastructure development, and overall economic transformation in the region.
The historic conference is expected to play a significant role in promoting Karnali Province globally while strengthening tourism partnerships, attracting investment, and enhancing international cooperation in Nepal.
