SINDHUPALCHOWK, Feb 9: Sindhupalchowk district is targeting to welcome 40,000 international tourists on yearly basis by 2020. Coinciding with the Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011, stakeholders in the district have designed an integrated master plan for overall tourism development in the district.
District Development Committee, Sindhu Panch Pokhari Development Committee and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) proposed the target as a part of the district´s tourism master plan. The district - home to beautiful Sherpa settlements, glaciers and high mountains - is already a popular destination among visitors.
The master plan was designed after the district council proposed Tourism Policy for the district with the slogan of ´Tourism, Agriculture, Hydro and Trade: Basis for Development of Sindupalchowk.´
Local Development Officer Krishna Prasad Aryal said the draft of the master plan has been forwarded to NTB for approval. “We will work on the implementation of the programs once the master plan is endorsed,” Aryal said, adding that the master plan was prepared with financial and technical assistance from DDC, Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Micro Enterprises Development Program of United Nations Development Programme.
Kiran Dhungel, consultant for the master plan, told Republica that a total of 18,000 tourists had visited the district last year. “Around 6,000 locals will get employment if tourist arrival reaches 40,000 every year,” he said. Dhungel further informed that about 10,000 visitors enjoyed trekking, rafting and kayaking in the district in 2010.
The master plan has identified 10 destinations for trekking. Similarly, the master plan sees the prospect of eco-tourism, agro-tourism and water based activities among others in the district. It proposes developing water-based activities in Bhotekoshi and Sunkoshi rivers. |
