Photo: WWRF facebook
It is estimated that Nepal has a capacity to hold 5 million tourists annually. However, the number is limited to one million only. Despite being rich in terms of culture, tradition, heritages, natural beauties, and wildlife, tourism of the country doesn’t not seems to be growing in the pace as it should be. After a nine-year hiatus, Government of Nepal is preparing for ‘Visit Nepal 2020’, a national tourism promotion campaign with an aim to lure 2 million tourists.

Government has target to double the number of tourist to make this campaign successful. Several organizations and concerned authorities are working their best to meet the target.

Meanwhile, a video challenge ‘My Village My Place’ was organized by We Will Rise Foundation (WWRF). According to the organizers, the main objective to organize the competition is to unveil hidden beauties of the country through the audio-visual, which will help to promote tourism of the country. A nation-wide competition organized by WWRF in association with Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Visit Nepal 2020 and Film Development Board, witnessed a participation of more than 130 artists and featured ten different awards. Organizers had announced a notice on January 1 to send tourism-based short video that could represent their own local art, culture, tradition, natural beauty, lifestyle among others by May 31.  Out of 132 videos received by the foundation, 45 videos were shortlisted for the final competition which was held in Kathmandu on Monday. Videos in the competition represented the diverse Nepali society reflecting various hidden socio-culture gems of the country.

The grand finale was attended by various dignitaries including Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel, veteran folk singer and lawmaker Komal Oli, CEO of NTB Deepak Raj Joshi, parliamentarian Kishan Shrestha, famous actress Karishma Manandhar among others.

Speaking at the event CEO of NTB, Deepak Raj Joshi said, “Before Nepal was known as a hilly country and was famous for adventure tourism only but now this conception is changing gradually and we feel so great to be the part of this kind of initiative that unveils hidden treasures of the country for tourism.” “Just like these videos our country is filled with diversity and tourists can experience various expects of life that’s why our theme for visit Nepal 2020 is ‘Life Time Experiences”, he added.

A five minutes long video ‘Journey to Single’ prepared by Jubuling Films was chosen the Best Video of the Year and bagged cash prize of Rs 100,000 along with scholarship worth Rs 200,000.

The grand finale of the competition also saw musical, dance and comedy performances by celebrities including Yogeshwar Amatya, Jitu Nepal and top four finalist of ‘The Voice of Nepal’. 

List of nomination and winner names are listed below: