MORANG, April 28: To promote and develop tourism, the Koshi Province government has declared 2082 BS as the Tourism Year. With a target of attracting 1.50 million tourists from neighboring India and other countries, the campaign has energized locals across the province. Since the beginning of Tourism Year, there has been a noticeable increase in tourist activities in Koshi.
The surge in visitors has also boosted the morale of tourism entrepreneurs and hotel owners. Kamlesh Sharma, a tourist from Bihar, India, visiting Kanyam in Ilam, said, "Nepal truly feels like a piece of heaven, it's even more beautiful than I had heard. We arrived two days ago with friends and plan to stay for a week."
The Koshi government introduced Tourism Year 2082 in an effort to revive the tourism sector, which had been heavily undermined by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We hoteliers are very happy. We hope Tourism Year 2082 will revitalize the hotel industry, which was struggling after COVID," said Tumraj Limbu, chairperson of the Hotel Association Bhedetar.
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Indian tourists are the primary visitors to the province. Previously, Indian tourists faced cumbersome checks at the border, but to facilitate smoother entry during Tourism Year, the government has started affixing special stickers to tourist vehicles at border points. Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki officially launched the initiative by placing a Tourism Year sticker on an Indian vehicle.
According to Limbu, around 100 Indian vehicles arrive in Bhedetar daily. The area has the capacity to accommodate 15,000 to 20,000 tourists in hotels and homestays.
Nagendra Magar, a homestay operator from Namje, Dhankuta, noted that compared to last year, there has already been a visible rise in domestic tourist activity at the beginning of this year. He said that while Fridays and Saturdays typically see the most visitors, tourist numbers have increased even on other weekdays.
Under the Namje Thumki Community Homestay Management Committee, 19 homes are operating, with a combined capacity to host around 90 to 100 guests. Transport operator Nagendra Bhattarai from Belbari, Morang, also observed that the number of domestic tourists renting vehicles for trips has been rising recently.
Rajendra Raut, president of the Koshi chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), emphasized that Tourism Year 2082, organized in collaboration with the private sector, would help boost the overall economy of the province. He called on all stakeholders to contribute from their respective areas to make the campaign a success.
On April 9, Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh inaugurated Tourism Year at Tinjure Milke, Tehrathum, known as the rhododendron capital of Nepal. Bhavish Shrestha, co-coordinator of Koshi Tourism Year 2082, said that the campaign is focusing on attracting religious, natural, and cultural tourists, along with visitors coming for education, health, and sports. The goal is to welcome 1.50 million tourists during the year.