In an interaction with local tourism entrepreneurs on Friday, China envoy to Nepal Yang Houlan said Chinese people were eager to visit Pokhara.[break]
He said he would talk with the authority concerned to bring in as many Chinese tourists as possible in the lake city.
Houlan also promised to extend maximum support to develop additional tourism infrastructure in the city.
“I met a number of Chinese tourists during my two-day visit to Pokhara,” expressing surprise over presence of a large number of Chinese tourists at this time, which is regarded as off season.
Houlan said Pokhara desperately needs an airport that can handle international flights. He also expressed commitment to make all possible efforts for the development of international airport in the city.
“My assessment is that an international airport should be built in Pokhara soon,” Houlan said, adding that the sole international airport (Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu) of the country was small and congested.
New airport that can directly link Pokhara with major international cities will better serve the local tourism, he added.
Houlan also said that China was eager to support the development of hydropower and construction of highways and other infrastructure.
“Nepal has huge tourism potential. But the country needs to build necessary tourism infrastructure to effectively tap this potential,” he said, adding that Nepal and China should hold talks to garner bilateral support in this connection.
The Chinese envoy further added that Nepal should restore peace and ensure political stability in the country to attract more Chinese investment.
During the interaction, tourism entrepreneurs had enquired about financial support that China was providing to Nepal to develop airport in Pokhara.
The government has placed development of international airport in Pokhara in its top priority and acquired 3,106 ropanis (158 hectares) of land in 1976 for the purpose.
Even though it dropped the priority in later years, local tourism entrepreneurs have been demanding the government to continue with the program.
Related story
Pokhara to organize Bhai Tika festival to promote tourism
