The Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) is set to organize the first-ever Yoga Festival in Nepal, a four-day event in Pokhara from October 16 to 19, 2024. The festival will take place at the Purna Yoga Retreat Center in collaboration with the Nepal Yoga Festival, aiming to boost yoga tourism and promote wellness travel in the country.
HAN President, Binayak Shah, emphasized the significance of combining yoga and tourism for the growth of Nepal’s tourism sector. “We are organizing a yoga festival in Pokhara for the first time in partnership with yoga experts, which will promote yoga tourism internationally,” Shah stated.
Yoga instructor Manohar Shrestha highlighted the increasing demand for yoga in Nepal, particularly after the global rise in wellness activities following the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed optimism that the festival would significantly contribute to the country’s tourism industry.
Organizer Lata Tulachan pointed out Nepal’s vast potential for yoga, ranging from the Himalayan regions to the plains of the Terai. “Wellness tourism, including yoga, will play a crucial role in enhancing Nepal’s tourism sector,” Tulachan remarked.
Sajan Shakya, General Secretary of HAN, stressed the festival’s importance for the long-term development of tourism in Nepal. The event will feature 15 international trainers and presenters, making it a diverse and enriching experience for participants.
The festival’s pricing has been set at NPR 3,000 per day for Nepali citizens and NPR 6,500 for foreign participants. HAN estimates the total project cost to be around NPR 4.5 million. Additionally, Yeti Airlines has been named the official travel partner for the festival, offering convenient travel options for attendees.
