Tourism plays a vital role in a country’s economic prosperity. Meanwhile Nepal is blessed with natural splendor and has the potential to generate remuneration through tourism.

Nepal is rich in culture and natural scenery, while proper promotion and good management can take tourism within the country to new heights. Having understood the tourism potential, locals from Syangja, Khotang and Biratnagar are gearing up to promote their local cultures and natural scenery.

Khotang Cave

Daman Rai, Khotang

The locals of Lamidada Rural Municipality-6, Haicharu are all geared up to preserve the historical cave situated at Bijayapakha Community Forest and promote tourism in the area with the help of the historic cave. 

According to the locals, they have found various stone tools from the primitive age that could probably be a stone bed, akhal, silauta and more. They believe that the cave should be conserved and promoted for cultural tourism and educational purpose. There is also another cave located at the distance of two or three minutes’ walk while one more natural cave is situated below Bijayakhapa.

According to Mohan Gurung, a local, both these caves might have been used by humans in the past. Both the caves are located along the banks of local Bijaya Khola. Moreover, the locals argue that there are high probability of finding human remains in the caves if they are excavated properly. A natural stream inside the cave is another major attractions.

To conserve the beauty and importance of the caves, locals believe that they need a strong promotion campaign supported by authorized government bodies. The caves are not only important to gain knowledge about pre-historic civilization but are also naturally beautiful. 

East Tourism Mart

Binod Subedi, Biratnagar

Entrepreneurs of province number one have founded East Tourism Foundation and are working to organize the first 'East Tourism Mart'. 

According to Bhabish Shrestha, tourism businessperson from Biratnagar and the foundation's coordinator, the foundation was formed with the aim to develop and promote tourism in the eastern tarai districts. The 'East Tourism Mart' is slated to be organized in three months from now.

The foundation plans to incorporate government authorities, business persons from tourism and hotel sector along with journalists from Bhutan, Bangladesh and India, as per Bhabish. "We are planning to include 150 people from India's three states and 75 each from Bhutan as well as Bangladesh. The foundation will identify areas where more number of tourists visit so as to expedite tourism promotion activities in those places,” said Shrestha. 

Recently, members of the foundation had come to Kathmandu and met government authorities for the same. After the meeting with the concerned governmental bodies, the entrepreneurs have begun their journey to organize the mart.

Home Stay Mahotsav

Mohan Gurung, Syangja

'Agriculture and Tourism Festival 2074' is scheduled to be held from September 5 to 28 with the slogan 'Agriculture and Tourism: Our Identity at Syangja’. The festival will be jointly organized by Nawa Srijana Yuwa Club, Tamu Kalika Aama Samuha and Pitlek Deurali Homestay Baling-5. 

According to coordinator Bupen Gurung, the festival aims at promoting authentic language, religion, culture and rituals of the Gurung community along with exhibition of organic agricultural products. He added, "We aim to attract domestic as well as international tourists at the festival. The main attraction of the festival is an open ward level volleyball competition, which we believe will increase positive thinking among youths through sports."

Moreover, visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy local lifestyle with the homestay facility during the festival. The fest will also have organic agricultural products such as coffee, tomato and flowers for sale. 

Similarly, local Gurung communities will showcase and inform the visitors about the honey hunting process. Visitors can also enjoy the magnificent view of Annapurna mountain range from the View Tower, along with sightseeing at Champa Danda, Deurali Danda and Kalika Temple, among others, as per promotion coordinator of the festival, Tilak Gurung. 

Tilak further informed, “Artists such as Sharmila Gurung, Sabina Gurung and Bhimu Gurung, among others, will perform live during the festival, while the locals will showcase cultural dances such as Ghatu, Sorathi, Jhaure and Salaijo, among others.

The organizers expect around 50 teams to participate in the volleyball tournament. The first, second and third prizes are Rs 33,333, Rs 22,222 and Rs 11,111, respectively along with a trophy, medals and certificates.