Nepali and Chinese entrepreneurs have formulated a 10-year plan to promote tourism and environmental protection in Nepal, with a particular focus on river and waste management in the Kathmandu Valley. The initiative aims to boost tourism in both nations while addressing environmental challenges.
The plan was introduced at the Nepal-China Cultural and Tourism Summit-2024, jointly organized by the Federation Handicraft Associations of Nepal, China's Orient Landscape and Company, and the East Culture Tourism Alliance. The conference, which concluded in Kathmandu on Wednesday, outlined the collaborative efforts required over the next decade. Representatives from the Chinese Alliance provided details about the planned activities during the event.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, emphasized the importance of learning from China’s exemplary progress in tourism development. He assured participants that the government would pursue policy reforms to support tourism growth while urging the private sector to take an active role in the industry’s development.
Prachanda Shakya, president of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal, highlighted that the first phase of the 10-year plan will prioritize river and waste management in the Kathmandu Valley. Collaborative efforts will also target the development of the handicraft and tourism sectors, with work on tourism infrastructure being a key component of the strategy.
President of the East Cultural Tourism Alliance and representative of Beijing Orient Landscape and Company, Fangfa Li, stated that the plan will be executed in two phases within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He underscored the need to enhance Nepal’s tourism infrastructure to attract long-term holiday tourists and pledged efforts to increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal.
Participants at the conference highlighted the potential of integrating art with tourism. Entrepreneurs emphasized the importance of developing the Kathmandu Valley as a hub for art tourism. “Various areas, including Patan in Lalitpur, are already recognized for their handicraft production,” said Shakya. “Nepal’s handicrafts significantly contribute to the tourism sector and account for 10% of the country’s total exports.”
According to the federation, Nepali entrepreneurs export handicrafts worth Rs 7 billion to China alone, both formally and informally. Overall, Nepali handicrafts reach 60 countries, generating an annual turnover of Rs 24 billion through domestic and international markets. The federation also reported that approximately 1.1 million people are directly and indirectly engaged in the handicraft sector.
