Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanaraj Acharya has emphasized the need for collective support and cooperation to continue the direct flight from Pokhara International Airport to Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. At a certificate distribution event organized on Monday by the Pokhara Tourism Council to honor participants of the first commercial chartered flight from Pokhara to Chengdu, Mayor Acharya said the flight has opened new possibilities for international connectivity from Pokhara.
He highlighted that programs in cities like Chengdu, Luzhou, and Chongqing during the first international flight enhanced bilateral ties and tourism partnerships between Nepal and China. He also stressed the importance of utilizing Sichuan Airlines’ extensive international network. Mayor Acharya mentioned that direct flights from Pokhara to Ali Airport near Mount Kailash are now possible and expressed confidence that this would significantly boost the local economy.
Maniraj Lamichhane, Head of the Nepal Tourism Board’s Gandaki Province office, stated that the B2B and sales mission events organized in Chengdu and Chongqing during the flight helped promote tourism in the region. President of the Pokhara Tourism Council, Taranath Pahari, emphasized that the successful first flight has further strengthened the Pokhara-China relationship and called for collective efforts to maintain regular flights.
Council Secretary and program coordinator Jivan Raj Sapkota thanked all supporters of the first flight and said the initiative deepened ties between Pokhara and various Chinese cities. Founding president of the Council, Ashok Palikhe, along with Ram Kali Khadka and Deepak Pahari, emphasized the need to emulate China’s discipline, cleanliness, and development practices.
