Private sector collaborates in promoting religious tourism: FNCCI President Dhakal

BAGLUNG, April 17:Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), has stated that the private sector will work together to promote tourism in Nepal's religious and cultural sectors.

He gave an example of the private sector's recent increase in investment in religious and cultural tourism, and stated that because the country's religious and cultural heritages have a high tourism potential, the private sector is willing to work with the government, management committee, and locals to develop and expand them.

President Dhakal stated that it is necessary to build tourism infrastructure in those areas in order to develop and expand religious heritages. President Dhakal informed that cable cars have already been built at Kamakhyadevi in Butwal and Maulakali in Gaindakot, and that construction has begun at Jalpadevi in Kailali and Pathibhara in Taplejung.

"Building tourism infrastructure in the religious and cultural heritage of the country means protecting and promoting those heritages as well as providing convenience to devotees," he said while inaugurating the Chaite Dashain Fair in Baglung on Tuesday. "That's why the private sector has always emphasized promoting tourism through infrastructure."

He stated that because Baglung and Parbat are the entrances to Muktinath, the world's most popular pilgrimage site for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, the completion of the Kaligandaki Corridor and Madhya Pahadi Lokmarga, as well as the full capacity of Korla Naka, will bring wealth to the area.

Chaite Dashain Mela is reported to be 300 years old in Baglung, and it is linked to the history of Kalika temple.