Bikalpa an Alternative organized stakeholder’s dialogue on “Tourism potentialities and challenges of Koshi province”. Stakeholders’ dialogue is a program that assembles corresponding stakeholders including policymakers, intellectuals, social activists, entrepreneurs, and civil society members to gather insights and information on certain policy research papers.
The event was held at the premises of Koshi Province’s Ministry of Tourism, Environment, and Forest on 21st January 2024. Its objective was to discuss the current challenges in Koshi province’s tourism industry and gather further insights on the research paper titled “The Challenges of the Tourism Sector in Koshi Province: A Policy Perspective”.
The program was chaired by Mr. Rajan Shrestha, Koshi Province’s President of Hotel Association Nepal. The Minister of Tourism of Koshi Province, Hon. Ganesh Upreti attended the program as the chief guest. Similarly, Hon. Puranjan Acharya, Vice-president of Koshi Province Planning Commission, Hon. Sunita Gachhadhar, member of the Tourism Committee of the Koshi Province Assembly, Mr. Nagesh Koirala, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan’s, Mr. Jiten Rai, Chairperson of Sangurigadi Rural Municipality, were the special guests. Representatives from various Tourism and Business Associations, Tourism Entrepreneurs, and Tourism Experts also participated and bestowed their valuable insights on the current scenario of the Tourism Industry of Koshi Province.
Basanta Adhikari, the director of Bikalpa an Alternative facilitated the program. The event began with the presentation of a short video developed by Bikalpa (which was supported by CIPE https://fb.watch/pNKUUsmzlW/?mibextid=SphRi8) that described the state of tourism in Nepal. Following this, Miss Shristika Neupane, researcher at Bikalpa an Alternative gave a presentation on the core findings of the study. The floor was then opened for discussion and feedback.
Mr. Punya Bhattarai, president of NATTA (National Association of Tourism and Travel Agency) emphasized harnessing air connectivity and agro-culture as catalysts for tourism growth. He also underscored the importance of extending the operating hours of restaurants and bars and utilizing the dynamic energy of the city’s night. Mr. Akhilesh Kumar Gupta, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Forest, and Environment, suggested a meticulous investigation of tourism potential destinations in Koshi Province and present the problem of each destination specifically.
Mr. Hemraj Aryal, on behalf of the Tourism Management Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Forest, and Environment shed light on the Ministry’s prioritization and initiatives. He shared about the information desk placed in Pashupatinagar, Haleshi, and Pathivara, and Homestay training for enhancing the overall experience of visitors. In his contribution to the discussions, Mr. Bhagwat Nepal, representative of Biratnagar Travel and Tour Association, drew attention to the prime role of infrastructure in tourism development. He stressed the need to grant more autonomy to the provincial government to run tourism programs.
Furthermore, Mr. Chudamani Bhattarai, General Secretary of the Chamber of Industry Morang shifted the focus to infrastructure and investment-friendly policies. He urged a strategic approach to encourage private investment as a pivotal engine of tourism development. From the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Koshi Province’s Vice-president, Mrs. Girija Sarda, proposed the development of information centers. She envisioned a systematic approach to display the diverse tourism destination of Koshi Province, while also maintaining and preserving the region’s rich religious heritage.
Echoing a business-oriented perspective, Mr. Roshan Thapa, a tourism entrepreneur, advocated for understanding the tourism sector as an industry. He called for benchmarking and competitive analysis to pinpoint specific challenges and opportunities in Koshi Province.
Towards the end of the program, policymakers divulged their opinions and plans for enhancing the tourism sector of Koshi Province. Mr. Jiten Rai shared his municipality plan to create a Master Plan and also emphasized the pivotal role of private investment in fostering economic growth. Likewise, Mr. Nagesh Koirala identified the communication and coordination challenges at the provincial and local government as a major weakness. His efforts lie in streamlining efforts as an area-wise focused approach for more effective outcomes.
Hon. Puranjan Aryal, emphasized the analysis of post-COVID measures adopted by different countries across the globe to revive their tourism industries. He stressed the importance of health facilities as a fundamental tourism attraction, and religious tourism as a core element in the tourism landscape of Koshi Province. Shifting the focus to rural tourism, Hon. Sunita Gachhadhar, highlighted the role of Homestays in promoting the unique cultural and culinary delights of diverse groups of the region. She also expressed concern about the provincial government’s lack of autonomy in creating laws and policies.
Concluding the discussions, Hon. Ganesh Upreti, Minister of Tourism, Environment, and Forest mentioned the ongoing development of the Tourism Master Plan of Koshi province. He further acknowledged the advocacy of mountain tourism rights in the province. He showcased his commitment to providing a seamless and welcoming experience for tourists with the allocation of a substantial budget for the information desk and immigration facilitation. He also expressed his readiness to collaborate with the private sector on investment-friendly policies and programs. “I acknowledge the findings and recommendations suggested by the paper and am ready to incorporate the guidance offered”, he affirmed.
The event ended with the concluding remarks from the chairman Mr. Rajan Shrestha. Altogether, 37 stakeholders attended this interactive and lively dialogue program.
Video Highlights of the event:
- Ganesh Upreti (Minister of Tourism, Forest, and Environment, Koshi Province): https://fb.watch/pNL8XAadFJ/
- Roshan Thapa ( Tourism Entrepreneur): https://fb.watch/pNLhu6uROk/
