A team of IFC arrived in Pokhara on Thursday to start preliminary study in this regard. The team held a consultation meeting with the administrative agencies and tourism entrepreneurs of the lake city.According to Western Regional Administrator Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, IFC team has shown interest to support in tourism development. "They came to study Pokhara's tourism sector and our requirements. We informed them about the possible sector for investment," he said, adding that the team has not disclosed the size of investment yet.
Local tourism stakeholders briefed the team about 16 infrastructure projects like Ring Road, bus park, botanical garden, zoo, bicycle lane, cricket stadium, Yashodhara Memorial Park and Musical Water Fountain, among others.
"They have shown interest in some of these projects," added Thapaliya.
Similarly, the team has signed an agreement to conduct a feasibility study of three international standard cycle lanes and two short trails. IFC is investing around Rs 15 million to conduct feasibility study of these projects, according to officials.
Mohan Krishna Sapkota, spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), said that IFC is helping the government to promote and develop tourism destinations in Pokhara and nearby areas. "IFC is not investing on its own. They are giving us consultations to promote tourism," Sapkota, said adding that the government has only signed consultation agreement with IFC.
Sapkota told Republica that IFC will give consultations to promote tourism in Annapurna-Dhaulagiri-Dhorpatan region as well. "By conducting tourism feasibility in different regions, IFC will help to bring foreign investment in these regions," Sapkota said.
Tourism entrepreneurs also say the feasibility study for development of tourism was needed to promote tourism in Pokhara. "Local investors have capacity to invest in smaller projects. We need foreign investment for big projects," Bharat Parajuli, president of Paschimanchal Hotel Association Pokhara, said.
Som Thapa, president of Pokhara Tourism Council, said feasibility study would help to increase length of stay of tourists visiting Pokhara. "We need to have proper infrastructure to increase tourists' length of stay," added Thapa.
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