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Tourism fair kicks off in Far Western region
Tourism entrepreneurs of Far Western region have organized a tourism fair with the aim of promoting Shuklaphanta National Park.Bhawani Bhatta
Tourism entrepreneurs of Far Western region have organized a tourism fair with the aim of promoting Shuklaphanta National Park. With the change of Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve’s status to a national park recently, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) initiated the event aiming to increase the flow of domestic tourists and foreigners.
The fair kicked off on Friday. NATTA President Madhu Sudan Acharya inaugurated the event.
According to NATTA, the three day fair will promote various tourism spots along with Shuklaphanta. There will be also be seminar discussing tourism of the region.
“Tourism entrepreneurs from India and other places in the bordering region will be provided an overview of tourism destination located in the region,” said Parmananda Bhandari, vice president of NATTA Far West region and coordination of the fair organisation committee, adding that places like Khaptad, Api-Shaipal mountain range, Badimalika temple, Ghodaghodi lake and Tikapur park, in particular will also be promoted.
Fair organisers expect participation of over 500 tourists in the three-day event. They will be taken to Ghodaghodi Lake, Tikapur Park and Bardiya National Park. Given that the Far Western region of Nepal and Uttarakhand of India are equally rich in terms of tourist spots, the organisers hope to work out on a modality to jointly operate tour packages in both countries.
“We expect the fair to be a platform that connects tourism entrepreneurs of Nepal and India,” said Maya Prakash Bhatta, President of NATTA Far West region.
Even though the status of Wildlife Reserve was changed to a National Park two months ago, it has so far failed to attract foreigners. Only a few thousand local tourists visit this region.
Following such lukewarm response, entrepreneurs of Far Western region joined hands to host such an event. The fair is expected to draw in over 5,000 visitors and is supported by Nepal Tourism Board.