Kathmandu, Aug. 29
The government has called on domestic and
international investors to channel investment into the tourism sector of
Sudurpashchim, describing the far-western province as a 'virgin land' brimming
with opportunities.
Speaking at an interaction programme in
Kathmandu on Friday, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri
Prasad Pandey urged investors to seize the chance to develop tourism
infrastructure in the region.
The event was jointly organised by the
Ministry, the Sudurpashchim Provincial Government and the Nepal Tourism Board
(NTB) ahead of the upcoming Sudurpashchim Investment and Development
Conference.
“Sudurpashchim is a province where nature,
culture and adventure come together to offer unique experiences. Through this
conference, we are inviting investors to help unlock its vast tourism
potential. The government is committed to resolving legal hurdles and
introducing investor-friendly policies to create a conducive business
environment,” said Minister Pandey.
He also announced that an NTB office would
be established in the province this year to support its tourism drive.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister of
Sudurpaschim, Kamal Bahadur Shah, stressed that the provincial government was
eager to welcome private sector participation. “We want to promote
Sudurpashchim’s prospects at both national and international levels. We are
prepared to guarantee legal safeguards and investment security for the private
sector,” he said.
The Sudurpashchim Investment Conference
will be held in Dhangadhi on November 17-18. In preparation, provincial
representatives have been meeting with government agencies and industry bodies
in the capital to highlight opportunities in various sectors, including
tourism.
Speaking at the event, industry leaders,
including President of Hotel Association Nepal Binayak Shah, CEO of NTB Deepak
Raj Joshi, CEO of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents Yubika Rajbhandari,
Vice-President of Nepal Mountaineering Association Thakur Raj Pandey, CEO of Siddhartha
Hotel and Group Krishna Neupane, General Secretary of Trekking Agencies'
Association of Nepal Ram Prasad Sedhai, and Chair of CNI Tourism Committee
Pampha Dhamala, expressed their readiness to invest, while urging the
government to identify clear policy directions and priority areas.
The government has recently announced that
mountaineering in Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces will be free of charge
for two years, while Dhangadhi Airport is undergoing upgrades and the
construction of Kanchanpur Airport is nearing completion. Officials also
highlighted the province’s religious and cultural significance, alongside its
natural attractions, as key drivers of future tourism growth.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 August 2025.
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