BANDIPUR, MAY 2
The Village Tourism Mart 2026 was inaugurated in Bandipur, Tanahun on Friday by Minister for Industry and Tourism Yashoda Rimal, with the four-day event drawing domestic and international tourism entrepreneurs, homestay operators from 11 districts of Gandaki Province, and community stakeholders in a push to position Nepal's rural tourism offer in the international market.
The mart, running from April 29 to May 2 in the hill town widely known as the Queen of the Hills, was preceded by a cultural rally through Bandipur Bazaar featuring 19 homestays representing the province's rural tourism network. The event marks the first time a safari-style rural exploration - visiting community homestays in Rumsi and Ramkot of Byas Municipality-14, Tanahun - has been introduced as part of a formal tourism mart in Nepal.
Inaugurating the event, Minister Rimal said federalism had decentralised development and empowered local governments to shape their communities. "A strong village forms the foundation of overall prosperity, and tourism is a key driver in strengthening rural economies," she said, expressing confidence the mart would generate employment and income opportunities alongside cultural promotion.
Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi pointed to growing global demand for immersive, community-based travel experiences and said Nepal must move decisively to capitalise on the trend. "It is equally important to pass on our traditional skills and indigenous knowledge to future generations," he said, praising Bandipur Rural Municipality and partner organisations for the initiative.
A significant announcement at the event was the handover of the Village Tourism Mart flag to Gorkha Municipality, confirming that the next edition will be held in Gorkha. Accepting the flag, Mayor Krishna Bahadur Rana Magar said the mart would help restore Gorkha's visibility as a tourism destination.
"Historically significant Gorkha has been somewhat overshadowed in recent years. This tourism mart will help bring it back into the spotlight," he said.
Bandipur Rural Municipality Chairperson Surendra Bahadur Thapa said initiatives such as village safari have proven effective in connecting tourists directly to homestays and integrating rural circuits into the broader tourism offer.