POKHARA, June 21: The 'Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival' is set to take place in Pokhara on Friday and Saturday, marking the first time such an event will be held in South Asia. The tourism sector anticipates that hosting the boat race in Phewa Lake will attract an influx of Chinese tourists to Nepal. As part of the festival preparations, the boat brought from China is currently being tested in Phewa Lake.

The festival is jointly organized by the Nepal Tourism Board, Chinese Embassy in Nepal, and Pokhara Metropolitan City, with the Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) and Nepal-China Overseas Association serving as co-organizers. A total of 120 participants from Nepal and China will take part in the festival, competing in eight boat races spanning 200 and 500 meters. Chinese officials have announced a cash prize of Rs 30,00,000 for the winners. The Chinese players arrived in Pokhara on Wednesday to participate in the competition.

Alongside the boat races, the festival will feature cultural performances and food exhibitions representing both countries. China has previously organized similar events in over 50 countries, and this competition has also been included in the Asian Games. The organizers aim to make this an annual event in Pokhara, promoting cultural exchange and harmony. Pom Narayan Shrestha, Chairman of the Pokhara Tourism Council, emphasized the significance of the festival in showcasing Pokhara to Chinese tourists. He expressed his hope that the event would attract more Chinese guests to Pokhara in the future.

China, which had restricted its citizens' travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed visits to Nepal from March 15, as announced by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Initially, Nepal was not included in the list of 20 countries where Chinese citizens were permitted to travel. However, Nepal was subsequently added to the list in a later publication. Since then, there has been an increase in the arrival of Chinese tourists to Nepal, according to tourism entrepreneurs.

In May alone, 4,667 Chinese guests entered Nepal, and tourism professionals expect this number to rise in the coming months. China ranks as the third largest source of foreign tourists for Nepal, prompting tourism entrepreneurs to develop various infrastructures in Pokhara specifically catering to Chinese visitors.

 
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