Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has announced that efforts are underway to initiate international flights from Pokhara. Speaking at an event organized by the Nepali Congress Gandaki Province Committee in Pokhara, Minister Pandey shared that discussions have been held with officials from India and China, emphasizing that the Nepalese government is prioritizing this initiative.
Minister Pandey highlighted the importance of conveying the message that Nepal’s airspace is both secure and reliable, noting that this is crucial for boosting tourist arrivals. He acknowledged that while Nepal has a significant number of airports, the lack of sufficient aircraft and the perception of unsafe air travel have hindered the growth of tourism in the country.
Pandey argued that if international flights from Pokhara and Bhairahawa are successfully launched, it could attract a large number of Indian Hindu pilgrims and Buddhists from various countries to Nepal. He stressed the need for the country to ensure and communicate the safety of its air routes internationally to boost tourism.
Addressing political matters, Minister Pandey, who also serves as the Joint General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, explained that the political instability in Nepal led to the formation of a coalition government with the CPN-UML. He emphasized that this collaboration aims to end various forms of instability in the country, and expressed the intent to maintain this partnership until the 2084 elections, after which healthy competition between the parties should resume.
Minister Pandey also called for clear policies to govern the relationship between the two parties at the ministerial, party, and grassroots levels to ensure a cooperative yet competitive environment.
Speaking on Nepal’s diversity, Pandey highlighted the country’s rich ethnic, linguistic, and geographical variety, stating that Nepal now recognizes 131 spoken languages. He emphasized the potential for promoting Nepal’s unique mountain ranges and diverse ecosystems on the international stage, which could drive the nation’s tourism development and economic prosperity.
Shukraraj Sharma, President of the Nepali Congress Gandaki Province, urged ministers from the party to deliver tangible results for the country and its people, despite the challenges they face. He also reiterated the importance of preserving education, culture, and tradition, expressing his wish for the development of Gandaki Province based on a prepared ‘Resolution’ for its progress.
Madhav Prasad Banskota Madhu, the spokesperson for the Nepali Congress Gandaki Province, highlighted the necessity of coordination between the party and the government, emphasizing that efforts should be made to prevent disappointment among the general public and party members.
Minister Pandey also participated in a separate meeting organized by the Kaski District Committee of the Nepali Congress.
On Wednesday, Minister Pandey is set to participate in the ‘Pokhara Tourism Capital – Policy Dialogue Program’ in Pokhara, which will include the tourism ministers from all seven provinces. The program will feature presentations and discussions on various topics related to Pokhara and tourism.
