KATHMANDU, JUNE 8
The Chinese Embassy in Nepal, in coordination with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Pokhara Metropolitan City, is set to organise the first Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival in Pokhara on June 23 and 24.
On the occasion, chartered flights with Chinese tourists are expected to arrive at the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), establishing a stronger connection between both people and air routes of the two countries with the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of NTB, said.
Stating that the dragon boat race set to be held in Nepal for the first time will also establish a cultural and direct air connection between China and Nepal, he said that this has paved the way to gradually establish regular international chartered flights from China to PRIA and that such an event should be held annually to promote Nepal as an all-season tourist destination.
"With the resumption of tourist movement from China, we realised the need to focus on the Chinese market to attract more tourists to Nepal. Meanwhile, the embassy has started taking initiatives to send Chinese tourist to Nepal and therefore contributing to the country's tourism economy. Such types of activities connect people's emotions and we have taken this seriously and with due diligence.
This activity can become an annual activity and we are looking to do that. As the event will be held during the month of June after some slowdown in tourist flow, such kinds of activities and events will help to attract the tourists in the off-season while also promoting Nepal as an all-season tourist destination," he said.
He also informed of a promotional campaign in Lhasa. "Tourists can drive directly to Kyirong from Lhasa, from where they can take a helicopter flight to Kathmandu.
As the tourism flow has recovered by over 90 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, similar activities can contribute to attracting more tourists in Nepal by the end of the year," he said, adding that the NTB is also working on reaching out to other markets to increase tourism flow into the country.
Meanwhile, addressing the press conference here today, Wang Xin, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy, shared that the event is being organised under the global civilisation initiative to enhance cultural exchanges and deepen the friendship between the people of Nepal and China.
"The Chinese embassy in Nepal with the NTB and Pokhara metropolis will host the first China-Nepal Dragon Boat Race Festival on June 23 and 24. The Pokhara Tourism Council and Pokhara Overseas Chinese Association are organising the event. Eight dragon boat teams will participate in a 200-metre and 500-metre events.
There will be cultural performances, food festivals and other activities," he said.
Stating that China and Nepal are close neighbours and enjoy a long standing history of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, he added, "The boat race will be held beneath Mt Machhapuchhre on the beautiful Phewa Lake in Pokhara, which is the second largest city and the most popular destination of Nepal. This will set off a wave of bilateral exchanges, renew our everlasting friendship and strengthen mutual trust and friendship between our people."
Foreign dragon boat teams will also participate in the race.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 9, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
