MARCH 07

Despite the huge tourism potential, Sudurpaschim Province in far west Nepal sees very few tourists. Even decades after the first foreign tourists visited Nepal, its tourism industry is concentrated in the capital and a few places in and around it.

Now the first five-year plan of the province is hoping to promote it as an attractive, safe and quality tourism destination. It has set a tall task for itself to attract 1.13 million visitors in 2025 and 2.5 million by 2031, with domestic tourists making up 40 per cent, Indians 25 per cent and other visitors accounting for the rest.

However, this is easier said than done. Although a masterplan has been prepared and approved, work on its implementation cannot begin until budget is allocated for the purpose in the next fiscal year. Before tourists start arriving here in their hordes, as envisaged in the plan, there is a need to first build access roads, hotels and lodges with modern amenities. Only then can a tourist's stay be lengthened to make any meaningful contribution to the GDP of the province.

Apart from numerous religious sites, the province boasts two national parks, namely, the Khaptad and Shuklaphanta national parks. The Khaptad sees snow from December to February, turning it into mesmerising scenery during the winter months. And given its vast expanse of 225 square kilometres, there is great possibility of developing it into a ski resort. For those in search of a different type of trekking experience, far from the highly crowded and commercialised Everest and Annapurna regions, the Api, Saipal Himal trek takes one through the remote and pristine hinterlands of far western Nepal. The strenuous trek for only the most physically fit blends the natural beauty of the region with breathtaking Himalayas, glacier lakes, high mountain passes, pansy fields, and unspoilt culture and traditions. Also, why not turn yarsagumba herb collection in the highlands in June into a festival just like honey hunting in Gandaki Province?

Initially, the province would do well to target Indian tourists. Big Indian cities like New Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur are located just a few hours' drive from Sudurpaschim Province. The hills with their cool climate are a perfect gateaway for Indians during the scorching summer months, who now travel to Nainital in Uttarakhand, India to beat the extreme heat. The key to attracting tourists, however, lies in effective marketing, which should be the priority of the province. The Dudhwa National Park in India on the Indo-Nepal border draws hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, and there is no reason why Shuklaphanta on our side of the border cannot do the same. But for tourism to really pick up in the province, the locals themselves must be ready to accept and promote the tourism industry. Until now, they are known to be averse to outsiders coming there and setting up hotels and lodges. Only with outside investment will they learn the entrepreneur skills required for running the hospitality industry. It is apparent that the province alone cannot come up with the required infrastructure to build a robust tourism industry, the central government must also chip in so as to diversify tourism away from the traditional routes.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.