Kathmandu, Jun. 4
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday
presented recommendations for developing Sudurpashchim into a sustainable and
inclusive tourism destination.
The recommendations were part
of the Sudurpashchim Integrated Economic and Tourism Development Study, which
was presented at the Tourism Symposium and Pre-Investment and Development Summit, the ADB informed in a statement.
The Summit was held in Dhangadhi
and brought together ambassadors, heads of development agencies, federal and
provincial government representatives, and private sector leaders to explore
investment opportunities in Nepal’s far-western region.
The Study by ADB was conducted
at the request of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation and builds on the 2022 Provincial Tourism Master Plan.
“The province’s natural beauty
and cultural heritage are exceptional, yet its tourism potential remains
largely untapped,” said ADB Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois.
According to him, the ADB study
shows that targeted investments in connectivity, destination hubs,
and workforce capacity can transform Sudurpashchim into a thriving tourism
economy.
The key findings of the study
emphasised the need for enhanced infrastructure to improve accessibility and
promote visitor dispersion, the development of integrated tourism circuits and
eco-friendly destination hubs, and cross-sectoral support to strengthen
governance, build a skilled tourism workforce, and attract private
investment.
Cauchois reaffirmed ADB’s
commitment to continue supporting Nepal’s development. He noted that the event
provided a valuable platform to align development strategies, foster
public-private partnerships, and promote regional and international
collaboration.
The event was also attended by
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister of Forests and
Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minister of Industry, Commerce and
Supplies Damodar Bhandari and Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province Kamal
Bahadur Shah.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 June 2025.
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