Pokhara hiking on Tourism Day

POKHARA, Sep 27:Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki organized a one-day hike in Pokhara to mark the 44th World Tourism Day.

The creation of a hiking trail surrounding Fewa Lake was promoted during a one-day trip, according to Dharmaraj Panthi, president of TAAN Gandaki.

The hike began in Margi village, which is in the Fewa Lake catchment area, and ended in Pumdikot after passing via Simle and Patle.

Participating in the hike were Gandaki MP Prakash Baral, Provincial Finance Secretary Bishnu Prasad Sharma, Chief Minister and Cabinet Secretary Vinod Kunwar, Vice Chairman of Policy and Planning Commission Krishnachandra Devkota, and several business people.

State MP Baral stated that they will create a hiking trail around Fewa Lake during a program held in Pumdikot after hiking. He argued that while safeguarding the lake, the tourism potential should be revealed.

According to Devkota, the vice chairman of the Planning Commission, the state administration is putting the finishing touches on its second five-year plan, which will concentrate on developing infrastructure for the tourism industry in Fewatal. The development and promotion of both short and long hiking routes will be planned, he said, adding that the province is seeking for new hiking routes.

Pomnarayan Shrestha, the head of the Pokhara Tourism Council, said that by constructing a hiking routes around Fewa Lake, visitors to Pokhara might extend their stay.

According to Kumansingh Gurung, the secretary of Gandaki Tourism, tourism is the state government's top focus. He said that even now the government is committed to building tourism infrastructure by giving tourism leave to the employees.