Gandaki government to develop homestays and new tourist destinations

POKHARA -The Gandaki state government is going to make necessary preparations to develop Pokhara as a tourist capital. Presenting the budget on Wednesday, Finance Minister Ramji Prasad Baral said that necessary arrangements would be made for the qualitative increase of tourism infrastructure and services in the state.

He said that the major lakes in the state would be developed as connection trials in coordination with the local level.

Minister Baral will construct 'a major tourist footpath at local level' for which Gandaki Trail from Ridi, Ligligkot, Vas Cave, Chhabdi, Kurlung, Ramkot, Bandipur, Hilekharka, Chimkeshwari, Beldhunga, Panchkot, Hatiya, Budhikot, Gorkha, Path, Devghat He said that necessary budget will be provided for the construction of the master plan after studying the feasibility of the footpath.

He also said that the homestay program in operation in the state will be standardized and integrated with local culture, costumes and agricultural products to promote rural tourism.

He also said that arrangements have been made to develop Kholasothar of Lamjung, Panchkot of Baglung, Pumdikot of Kaski, Begnas, Buddhamandala of Kahu and Ligligkot of Gorkha as new tourist destinations.

He also said that arrangements would be made for feasibility study for the promotion of adventure tourism such as canyoning, canopy walking, sailing, zipline, bungee jumping, beach tourism and wild tourism within the Gandaki region.