Hotel and tourism entrepreneurs from Madhesh Province have successfully concluded a promotional visit to Gandaki Province under the slogan “Explore Madhesh, Understand the Province.” The visit, which began on Jestha 8, concluded on Monday with the aim of strengthening inter-provincial tourism cooperation and promoting Madhesh as an emerging travel destination. The initiative is closely linked to the upcoming “Madhesh Tourism Mart,” scheduled to be held from Jestha 28 to 31, which aims to bring together tourism stakeholders from across Nepal, including Pokhara and other key destinations of Gandaki Province.
According to Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Madhesh Province President Mohan Sharma Lamichhane, the Gandaki visit was organized to engage tourism entrepreneurs and build partnerships that will help attract domestic and international tourists visiting Gandaki to Madhesh’s tourism destinations.
35 Tourism Entrepreneurs Participate in Promotional Visit
The tour was led by the Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs Federation Madhes Province, with participation from 35 tourism entrepreneurs representing various districts of Madhes.
Federation President Hira Gautam stated that the delegation held interactive sessions with local tourism entrepreneurs in Bandipur, Pokhara, and Sauraha, focusing on collaborative strategies to promote tourism exchange between the two provinces.
Discussions highlighted how tourists visiting Gandaki could be encouraged to extend their travel to Madhes, thereby increasing visitor flow to emerging destinations in the region.
Inter-Provincial Meetings Held in Bandipur, Pokhara, and Sauraha
During the visit, the delegation held several high-level interactions with local tourism stakeholders:
- In Bandipur, discussions were held with rural municipality chairperson Surendra Bahadur Thapa and local entrepreneurs on tourism linkages.
- In Pokhara, talks were conducted with Pokhara Visit Year 2025/26 Coordinator Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai, focusing on tourism promotion strategies.
- In Sauraha, meetings were held under the leadership of Hotel Association Vice President Gunraj Thapaliya, emphasizing inter-provincial tourism collaboration.
The discussions focused on developing tourism circuits that connect Terai with major tourist destinations in Gandaki, thereby promoting integrated travel experiences.
Madhesh Tourism Mart to Highlight Key Destinations
The upcoming Madhesh Tourism Mart is expected to focus on promoting major tourist destinations across the province, including Parsa National Park, Janakpurdham of Dhanusha, and Sakada Bhagwati Temple in Saptari, along with other emerging attractions from Saptari to Parsa.
The event aims to attract participation from hotel entrepreneurs, tour operators, and digital content creators from Nepal as well as various cities in India. Organizers believe the mart will play a crucial role in positioning Madhesh Province as a competitive tourism destination in regional and international markets.
Nepal Tourism Board Leads Coordination Efforts
The event is being organized by the Nepal Tourism Board, in coordination with NATTA Madhes Province and several local governments and tourism-related organizations. According to NATTA Madhesh President Sharma, the Madhesh Tourism Mart will significantly contribute to promoting the province’s tourism potential and strengthening its visibility in both domestic and cross-border tourism markets.
The successful completion of the Gandaki promotional visit marks an important step toward building stronger tourism linkages between Nepal’s provinces. With the upcoming Madhesh Tourism Mart, stakeholders aim to enhance cooperation, promote key destinations, and position Madhes as a rising tourism hub through coordinated national and regional efforts.
