Pokhara, October 29:

Locals have started a campaign for the promotion of Mattikhan — a tourist spot on the border of Kaski and Syangja districts — from where beautiful landscape of several districts of western region, including Himalayan range and Pokhara valley can be observed.

They have organised an interaction programme — on what they can do and how the state can help them for the promotion of Mattikhan — in Pokhara on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) said that security is a major threat in the development of tourism sector.

“Local participation is very significant for tourism development,” he added.

Ganesh Gurung, a social worker, said that the issue of tourism promotion and development can be easily highlighted, if the people were convinced that they can benefit from the tourism promotion in the district.

Hitkaji Gurung, member of parliament (MP), said that mobilisation of local people is an important aspect for the tourism promotion.

Basu Dev Tripathi, a member of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and coordinator of the Visit Pokhara Year-2007,

announced, on the occasion, that the board will provide three lakh rupees for the construction of view-tower at Mattikhan.

“Mattikhan is the only site from where the whole Pokhara valley and long Himalayan range can be observed,” he said.

Earlier, the Nepal Tourism Board had reportedly announced to provide one million rupees for the construction of the view-tower.

“Publicity of Mattikhan should be stepped up for the popularisation of this tourist-spot,” Dip Prasad Sharma, a local said adding that basic facilities like roads connectivity, clean drinking water should be made available for Mattikhan.

On the occasion, Dr Chandra Gurung; Rabindra Adhikari, a CPN (UML) leader; Keshav Acharya, former tourism entrepreneur; Ram Chandra Pokharel, a lecturer and Santa Bahadur Gurung, a local resident also spoke about the importance of Mattikhan on the occasion. They were of the view that tourism sector’s development can bring prosperity to the locals.

The interaction programme was organised by special committee Pokhara under the Kusti, Mattikhan, Kalikakot conservation, development and management committee.

Mattikhan is located on the bordering village development committees of Kaski district and Syangja district; Kusti and Fedikhola village development committees.