Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival to be held for the first time in South Asia

KATHMANDU, May 07:The Nepal Tourism Board, the People's Republic of China Embassy in Nepal, and the Pokhara Metropolitan City will conduct the Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival in Pokhara from June 23-24, 2023. 

The event will be co-organized by the Pokhara Tourism Council and the Nepal China Overseas Association. 

The Nepal Tourism Board and Chinese Embassy officials inked an agreement for the event, which will be staged to improve culture and people-to-people relations between the two countries and increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal. 

Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, and Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Wang Xin from the Chinese Embassy signed the agreement in the presence of Mr. Dhanraj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, and Mr. Madan Acharya, Executive member of Nepal Tourism Board.

This will be the first Dragon Boat Race Festival in South Asia, with 8 boats brought in from China. Before the race, athletes from China and all provinces of Nepal will undergo the necessary training. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya, who is also the event's patron, stated that such programs will offer new dimensions to Nepal's general tourism as well as new products to Pokhara's tourist, and that they will be held every year. The Boat Race Festival, according to NTB CEO Dr. Regmi, will assist Pokhara's tourism become more sustainable. He also stated that, in addition to the trilateral collaboration, participation from other tourism stakeholders will contribute in drawing more tourists to Pokhara. 

DCM Mr. Wang Xin of the Chinese Embassy recognized that Pokhara is a popular destination for Chinese tourists and that this initiative will improve cultural and people-to-people interactions between the two countries. He emphasized that this type of program was established for the first time in South Asia and that it will be repeated in the future. During the event, there will also be a culinary fair.