Ilam and Pokhara begin tourism cooperation talks

By Prem Adhikari,Pashupatinagar (Ilam), Mar. 27: Tourism entrepreneurs and stakeholders from Ilam and Pokhara have begun dialogue to promote tourism exchange and cooperation between the two destinations.

The initiative, led by the Hotel Association Pokhara, has brought together representatives from Suryodaya Municipality in Ilam and Pokhara.

A discussion was held in Kanyam on Thursday, where hoteliers, tourism entrepreneurs and local stakeholders from both areas explored ways to strengthen tourism collaboration, said Prajwal Pradhan, President of the Suryodaya Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association.

Participants in the dialogue included Laxman Subedi, President of Hotel Association Pokhara; Mani Raj Lamichhane, Chief of the Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki Province; Krishna Acharya, head of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki; Rajan Pradhan, Koshi Province Vice-President of the Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Federation; and representatives from travel agencies and local governments.

The interaction is part of the long-running -- Let’s Go To Pokhara (Jaun Hai Pokhara) campaign, which was launched 25 years ago from Ilam by Hotel Association, Pokhara.

The current phase of the tourism exchange programme began on March 23, with Pokhara-based entrepreneurs travelling through Birgunj and Biratnagar before reaching Ilam. After Ilam, the programme will continue in Hetauda and conclude on April 6.

Speaking at the event, Laxman Subedi said investment in Pokhara’s tourism sector has increased significantly since the government declared it the country’s tourism capital two years ago.

He said that Pokhara now has around 1,200 hotels with investments exceeding Rs. 8 billion and the capacity to accommodate up to 40,000 tourists per night. He also announced that hotels in Pokhara will offer a 25 per cent discount to both domestic and international visitors during the New Year 2083 BS (2026) festival.

“We want to bring tourists visiting Pokhara to Kanyam and Antu and likewise take visitors from Ilam to Pokhara. This is the beginning of that effort,” Subedi said, adding that while Pokhara has successfully attracted foreign tourists through private sector initiatives, Ilam needs greater involvement from local businesses and authorities to draw international visitors.

Mani Raj Lamichhane of the Nepal Tourism Board said developing tourism circuits and strengthening networks could facilitate tourism exchange between Pokhara and Ilam. He suggested expanding links with India’s West Bengal to bring tourists to Ilam and extend their travel to Pokhara.

“Pokhara and Ilam offer different types of tourism experiences. There is strong potential to exchange visitors between the two destinations and we have initiated that process,” Lamichhane said.

Krishna Acharya of TAAN Gandaki highlighted the need to develop trekking trails alongside tourist destinations to attract more foreign visitors to Ilam.

Ward Chairperson Jung Bahadur Gurung of Suryodaya Municipality-8 said the area has diverse attractions, including Kanyam, Antu, a glass bridge, tea garden trails, Swami Park, Buddha Park, red panda habitats and the cultural heritage of indigenous communities such as the Lepcha.

He expressed confidence that cooperation between Pokhara and Ilam would help revive the tourism sector.

Rajan Pradhan, Vice-President of the Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Federation, Koshi Province, stressed the importance of developing transit points to strengthen tourism cooperation between the two regions.

Suryodaya Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association welcomed visiting hoteliers, tourism entrepreneurs and journalists from Pokhara.

Suryodaya Municipality has already been declared a tourism city by the Koshi Province government, while Antu and Kanyam remain among the most popular destinations for domestic tourists.