The Lumbini Provincial Government has developed 71 plans for the promotion of internal and external tourism in Banke for the current fiscal year. According to Tanka Khanal, Chief of the Tourism Division Office, Kohalpur, these plans include small and large-scale infrastructure projects, training programs, and promotional activities. The government has allocated the necessary budget to support these initiatives.
The plans focus on developing infrastructure in religious sites, lakes, and wetlands. Additionally, the government has set aside NPR 80 million for preserving and promoting the traditional skills and culture of indigenous, tribal, and marginalized communities in Banke, Dang, and Bardiya. Specific allocations include NPR 1 million for the Nepalgunj Cultural Festival, Photography Festival, and training programs. Similarly, NPR 500,000 has been designated for Tharu folk song and dance competitions in Baijanath, Kohalpur, and Rapti Sonari.
To promote Tharu dance and the art of making traditional drums, NPR 500,000 has been allocated for training and material distribution in Rapti Sonari and Ward No. 2 of Rajapur Municipality in Bardiya. Furthermore, NPR 1.5 million has been allocated for the infrastructure development of Baisha Park in Rapti Sonari-3, NPR 1 million for the construction of a Buddhist monastery in Kohalpur-14, and NPR 1.5 million for a stupa in Kohalpur-8.
The provincial government has also allocated NPR 3 million for the construction of Mansarovar Inner Kailash Mountain and a Shiva statue in Baijanath-6, NPR 2 million for infrastructure development at Bageshwari Temple, and NPR 1 million for the construction of a Saraswati Temple in Nepalgunj-3. Other allocations include NPR 1 million for a mosque in Janaki-6, NPR 500,000 for a Mahadev Temple in Nepalgunj-22, and NPR 1 million for a Bhaisashur Temple in Dudhua-3.
For the conservation of the Shaheed Smriti Park in Rapti Sonari-6, NPR 6 million has been allocated for constructing martyr statues and infrastructure. Similarly, NPR 500,000 has been set aside for building a waiting area in Hadiyababa, Nepalgunj-6, and NPR 8 million for restoring the 200-year-old Baba Prayag Das Samadhi Monastery in Nepalgunj-17. Additionally, NPR 1 million has been allocated for greenery promotion in Nepalgunj-18.
Other significant allocations include NPR 2 million for infrastructure development in Barfani Religious Area, NPR 1.5 million for Santaneshwar Religious Area, NPR 1.5 million for infrastructure development of Dhakeri Park in Rapti Sonari-9, NPR 1 million for beautifying a water park, NPR 1.5 million for Lions Park in Gavar Valley, Baijanath, and NPR 1.5 million for constructing a Dharamshala at the Kammar Shah Baba Mazar in Dudhua.
Shriram Sigdel, President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, emphasized the need for a comprehensive study to identify tourist destinations and attract specific types of tourists. “Budgets from parliamentary development funds, local governments, and the provincial government are being allocated. However, a single large budget allocation at the local level may not yield significant results,” he stated, stressing the importance of short-term and long-term investments to attract tourists effectively.
