The campaign, spearheaded by Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), already has support from 46 different organizations who have pledged to contribute to tourism promotion. [break]
“Local traders, education institutions, transport entrepreneurs and industrialists have been contributing to our campaign and we are trying to approach other organizations as well,” Dinesh Bhandary, president of KCCI, told Republica at an interaction held on Thursday in the presence of lawmakers from Far Western Region. Under the campaign, local schools have been collecting from each student Rs 5 per year, and local mills, mineral water industries and transport entrepreneurs have also been contributing certain amount for the fund from their sales.
“We have collected about Rs 600,000 for the fund and the initial amount will be spent on building an information center at Chisapani Entrance -- a gateway to Far Western Region," said Bhandary. "Gradually, the fund will be utilized to promote local tourist destinations.”
The government has listed only Ghodaghodi Lake in Far Western Region as the target destination to be specially promoted during the Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
Speaking on the occasion, Lekh Raj Bhatta, Maoist Lawmaker, the poor region has been pushed further backward due to government policies that fail to recognize the real problems of the local people.
“Far Western Region would never see the rays of development unless policymakers understand the real problem of this region. It is high time for the people from Far Western Region to exert pressure on the government to prioritize development programs for this region,” said Bhatta. Bhakta Baduwal, another lawmaker representing the region, said lack of unity among local people and political parties has weakened the voice of the region.
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