A Tourism Master Plan is set to be developed for Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu district, with the aim of promoting and managing the region’s untapped tourism potential. For this purpose, the rural municipality has entered into an agreement with the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN).
The agreement was formally signed on Monday by Buddhi Kiran Rai, Chairperson of Mapya Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality, and Sagar Pandey, President of TAAN. The signing ceremony was attended by TAAN Senior Vice President Karma Sherpa, General Secretary Sonam Gyeljen Sherpa, Chief Executive Officer Ram Chandra Sedai, and Executive Member of the Municipality, Prakash Khaling, among others.
According to the agreement, a total budget of NPR 1.5 million has been allocated for the master plan, with NPR 1.1 million contributed by the rural municipality and the remaining NPR 400,000 from TAAN. The plan’s development work will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of the current fiscal year (Ashadh end).
This initiative continues the bilateral collaboration agreement signed last year between the municipality and TAAN aimed at promoting tourism in the region. As part of that previous collaboration, the Everest Dudhkoshi Cultural Trail was inaugurated last year, in partnership with TAAN. The trail begins from Silgudi Danda in Ward No. 5 and connects scenic villages such as Ghumne Mera, Kudham, and Yotelmya Tourism Shelter, allowing visitors to experience the area’s rich natural and cultural heritage in a short timeframe.
TAAN President Sagar Pandey emphasized the importance of institutional collaboration with local governments for sustainable tourism development. He noted that rather than focusing on short-term promotional campaigns, TAAN is committed to producing impactful and result-oriented outcomes. He expressed TAAN’s full commitment to developing Mapya Dudhkoshi’s tourism potential into marketable tourism products to attract both domestic and international visitors.
Pandey also shared that the final phase of standardizing the Trekking Information Management System (TIMS card) is underway. Once completed, it will pave the way for more structured cooperation with local governments and further enhance sustainable tourism practices across Nepal.
Chairperson Rai highlighted the positive outcomes of the ongoing partnership with TAAN, noting that it has played a vital role in promoting the municipality’s tourism potential. He expressed confidence that this new agreement will contribute significantly to completing the tourism master plan and identifying remaining unexplored opportunities in the area. He also extended an invitation to the TAAN leadership to visit the newly inaugurated Everest Dudhkoshi Cultural Trail.
This initiative marks a significant step toward unlocking the tourism prospects of Mapya Dudhkoshi, setting a model for how local and national institutions can collaborate to boost rural tourism in Nepal.
