Pokhara: The Village Tourism Mart kicked off in Pokhara on Friday. Gandaki Province Office of the Nepal Tourism Board organized the mart where Village Tourism Promotion Forum (VITOF), Gandaki Province, is the co-organiser.
According to National News Agency Nepal, representatives of 27 homestays operated in Gandaki Province, as well as representatives associated with tourism from Koshi Province and Bandipur, have been participating in the mart. The homestay owners are briefing about the services they are providing in the mart and during various discussion sessions related to village tourism.
Inaugurating the Mart, Minister for Industry and Tourism of Gandaki Province, Mitra Lal Basyal, emphasized that the development of village tourism is a government priority. He also expressed the commitment to allocate the necessary budget for this initiative. Similarly, Chief of Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki Province, Mani Raj Lamichhane, highlighted that people from urban areas could visit villages and enjoy homestay services.
The mart has been organized to foster a rural-urban connection through tourism. People associated with media, industries, and tourism will hold separate discussions and consultations during the event, it is stated.
VITOF Chair Shova Sapkota expressed the belief that the mart would be useful in making the homestay business effective along with the development of village tourism. Stating that every village has tourism possibilities, Chairperson of Pokhara Tourism Council, Tara Nath Pahari, noted that the tourism potentials of the villages could be explored through the development of village tourism. The mart will run till Sunday.