Gandaki province has placed significant emphasis on enhancing the tourism sector's development. In the budget for the fiscal year 2081/82 presented recently, it was announced that promotional campaigns will be launched to boost key tourist destinations and attract both domestic and international visitors to the province. These efforts will be carried out in partnership with private enterprises.
Additionally, collaborative initiatives with tourism entrepreneurs will be undertaken to create diverse tourism packages. A 'home first and abroad later' campaign will also be implemented. Funding has been allocated for the development of 11 tourist sites in coordination with Pokhara, a hub for tourism, and neighboring local communities.
The budget speech outlines provisions for conserving, developing, and upgrading trekking routes such as Annapurna, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhree, and Mardi under the 'Preservation of Trekking Routes - Promotion of Tourism' initiative. Religious tourism will also receive attention, with funds earmarked for promoting major sites like Gajendramoksha Dham, Muktinath, and Manakamana.
Infrastructure and capacity-building programs will focus on establishing homestays to integrate rural tourism with production and employment. Moreover, funds have been allocated to construct cycling routes linking lakes in Jomsom (Mustang), Bandipur (Tanahun), and Pokhara to promote tourism through cycling.
The budget statement also highlights provisions for training programs aimed at developing skilled manpower for mountain climbing and recognizing the achievements of local mountaineers.
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