Tourism potential yet to be tapped effectively

By Our Correspondent,Hile, Apr. 9: Almost a decade has passed since rafting started in Tamor River from Mulghat in Dhankuta to Chatara in Sunsari. 

Hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists are entertained by this every year. Similarly, there is a commercial canyoning game at Namaste Waterfall located in Dhankuta. 

At Namaste Waterfall, people drop down with the help of a rope from a waterfall about 55 meters below. However, domestic tourists have not shown much interest in regular canyoning. Apart from these two sports, zip-line, paragliding, bungee jumping, rock climbing, horse riding, and cycling are also available. But the construction of these games has not even been studied.

Adventure games are one of the ways to attract tourists. Water adventure sports such as rafting, canyoning, zip-line, paragliding, bungee jumping, and rock climbing have a lot of potential in Dhankuta. 

Due to the lack of interest from the local level and related bodies, the risky game could not benefit as much as it could, says the local Gaurav Karki. "There is a lot of potential, but the locals have not even studied what can be done," Karki said.

Apart from the fact that Kakarvitta has built the basic tourism development office which is necessary to hang ropes for canyoning, no other work has been done for adventure sports.

Apart from Namaste Waterfall, there are other possibilities for waterfalls in other areas as well. But no one has paid attention to it. Preparations are being made by the private sector for the construction of an about 1500-meters-long zip-line at Bhedetar in Dhankuta. But proprietor Ashish Rai said that there was no subsidy or support from the government for construction, not even facilitation.

Paragliding is sometimes done from Bhedetar. But there is a lack of clients for it. As a result, the sport has not become regular in the area. Apart from this, Dhankuta has the possibility of many activities such as jumping, cycling, horse riding, rock climbing, and boating. But the possibility of this game has not been studied till now. 

According to the locals, if the area can be studied and necessary infrastructures prepared and attracted to the game, internal and external tourists will increase.