Mayor Alain Scudellaro has been the Mayor of a commune in the south of France for 24 years, vice-president of the inter-municipality, and vice-president of the Scot de Gascogne, which brings together 393 communes. He will be a candidate in March 2026 in the next municipal elections and in September 2026 in the French senatorial elections.
A true friend of Nepal, he founded the humanitarian association Gers-Himalaya in February 2000, which helps disadvantaged children in Nepal through access to education (Suryodaya Secondary School in Dillibazar, Lélintok Godawari, and for the last 15 years an orphanage in Phutung and a school in Salyantar Dhading.
He was the Director of an institute to help children with mental disabilities, and was responsible for the Occitanie region for access to care for people with disabilities. Today, he is a consultant in the fields of medico-social and health. He was on his 25th visit to Nepal and interacted with stakeholders, politicians, civil society and young entrepreneurs. He also gave an exclusive interview to Nepal Traveller.
How did this amazing relationship with Nepal begin, could you share this journey over all these years?
A trek around the Annapurna was my first trip in Nepal. I returned for the second time to set up the INGO and build association with Gers-Himalaya a humanitarian association, with another association, with Gers-Himalaya in Nepal. We are helping and supporting schools in Nepal and we are supporting many poor children through our association. And these children also get the opportunity to learn French language every year in these schools. We have an arrangement with Alliance Francoise, and one teacher, every week teaches the French language. So it's an interesting partnership.
I have always had a good relation with this country because many Nepalese people visit France. Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiri Babu Maharjan also visited France, and visited me as I am a Mayor too. So we have a great connection. He is a very simple and very humane person and I truly enjoy every time we meet because it's always interesting to discuss about culture, nature, society and our municipalities. Then Rajendra Khetan is a very interesting for me, he is a friend of France and a dear friend of my friend who is a senator in France. I met him when he came to France.
Now I'm also a candidate for senate elections and I hope to enjoy even better relations between France and Nepal. There is a new chamber of commerce for improving relations and business opportunities between the two countries.
Also in my district, I am I'm interested that our laboratories have good relation for more natural products, like oil, essential oil, creams and other natural products from the Himalayas and Nepal.
In Europe there is huge demand and people want natural and pure products from the Himalayas. I think it's a good idea to have more opportunities and relations for Nepal to export more natural products. There are some plants from the Himalayas that are unique and only found here.
After visiting Nepal 25 times, what is your message to increase tourism to Nepal from France?
I know Nepal since many years. The 25 times I visited were in different seasons, and every season was different. Also, I visited many places and each is so different from the other. I have been in the Terai, in Gorkha, the hills and mountains. Each place is so different and has so much to see and experience. Kathmandu is very interesting. It's a big city, it's a big valley, but it's very interesting because at each place there is something historical and interesting to see. Temples, monuments, heritage buildings. I am back after 15 years. The last time I was here was after the earthquake and I see so many beautiful transformations.
I was in Patan yesterday and everything has been rebuilt. I visited the durbar square and the museum. I think it's beautiful for tourist, there is so much beauty to experience and I always tell people they must visit Nepal.
What should we be doing to get more tourist from France?
Nepal is always an amazing place to visit. The problem recently is ticket pricing and lack of good airlines connection. Not so many travel companies want to propose visiting Nepal because of this. I think Nepal Airlines should work on this.
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