Cultural destinations to attract tourists for wedding events

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 27: The government has carried various tourism promotional programmes targeting to bring at least 1.6 million tourists in the next fiscal year 2024/25. The government allocated budget of Rs. 11.92 billion for the tourism sector for the next fiscal year.

It is mentioned in the budget that the profile of the tourist destination will be prepared for the identification of the new destination and the development and promotion of the existing destination as well.

Similarly, the budget has proposed to provide services to tourists through the one door system and make the mountain climbing permit system based on automatic technology.

It is proposed in the budget that tourism promotion programmes such as road shows, fairs, and festivals targeted at tourists will be conducted in major cities of neighbouring countries India and China and other countries and border tourism will be promoted by expanding tourist spots, markets, and health facilities targeted at tourists from neighbouring countries.

In collaboration with the private sector, arrangements will be made for pilgrims to easily visit major religious places by operating Pashupatinath, Swargadwari and Muktinath Darshan transport services from Nepal-India border crossing.

There is a provision in the budget to develop a circuit in the tourist spots of Tarai, Hills and Himalayan regions which are geographically close.

The budget has proposed that in order to promote tourism in the major destinations of Chure, hilly and Himalayan regions covering all the seven provinces, eco hill station with entertainment infrastructure will be built

There is a mention in the budget that government land will be provided on lease to establish hotels in the main tourist areas of the Mid-Hill and Pushshalal Highway area and arrangements will be made to provide access roads, electricity and water supply services to such places in collaboration with the provincial and local levels.

It has been proposed in the budget to develop tourism infrastructure such as Great Himalayan Trek, Mundhum Teak, Guerrilla Trek to run trail based tourism program.

The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 5.46 billion for the toruism infrastructure development for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/254.

In the next year's budget, the government has advanced the programme to establish tourist rescue centers in possibly risky areas while protecting and promoting the existing trails.

There is a mention in the budget that cultural and tourist destinations will be developed as wedding destinations by facilitating the tourists coming to organise marriage ceremonies in Nepal.

The budget has proposed to promote Janakpur, the wedding place of Ram Janki, as a wedding venue and Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, as a birthing venue.

The government has allocated budget of Rs. 3.77 billion for the upgrading and expansion of infrastructure related to civil aviation.

The budget has proposed that the construction of the second terminal building of Tribhuvan International Airport will be started and the investment framework and preparatory work will be completed within the next fiscal year to build the Nijgadh International Airport in a public-private partnership.

The government has allocated Rs. 360 million with the aim of completing the expansion of Bharatpur airport next fiscal year. Similarly, the budget has proposed for upgrading airports located in Surkhet, Badachur in Rolpa, Tarigaon in Dang, Jumla, Biratnagar, Dhangadhi and Nepalgunj.

In the meantime, provincial and local level governments have also given priority to the infrastructure development of tourism sector to bring more tourist both domestic and foreign to their respective provinces and local levels.

By making the historical cultural city prosperous and well-governed, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Bharatpur Metropolitan City and Pokhrara Metropolitan City have given priority to the heritage and culture to their budget. Presenting the budget for the next fiscal year 2024/25, Pokhara Metropolitan CIity has allocated a budget around Rs. 15 million for the promotion of tourism of the City. By declaring 2025 as the Pokhara Visit Year, the metropolis aims to bring about 1.5 million tourists.