22nd Pokhara Street Festival kicks off

POKHARA, DECEMBER 30

The 22nd edition of Pokhara Street Festival began today.

The street festival is organised by the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal, Pokhara, on the occasion of the New Year of the Gregorian calendar.

Inaugurating the festival, Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Prithvi Subba Gurung, said the provincial government would soon implement the business protection fund in view of the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on industry and tourism.

Chief Minister Gurung said a fund of Rs one billion had been established for the revival of all types of industries and businesses affected by the virus.

Saying the coronavirus had adversely affected tourism in Pokhara, he expressed the belief that the street festival would give a positive message for tourism promotion.

CM Gurung stressed the need to carry out economic activities by fulfilling the criteria set by World Health Organisation.

Stating the government was carrying out activities by prioritising people’s health, he expressed the view that it would help the country become self-dependent in the health sector to some extent.

Similarly, Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, Bikas Lamsal, said the province had invested on infrastructure development to achieve prosperity by developing Pokhara as a tourist hub.