Foreign tourist arrivals through Nepal’s western border increase

Kanchanpur, August 26

The number of foreign tourists entering Nepal through the Gaddachowki border point in Kanchanpur has been increasing.

According to the Immigration Office, Gaddachowki, the number of tourists entering Nepal through the border point has risen in recent years.

According to the office, 1,753 foreign tourists entered Nepal through the border point in the last fiscal year. During the same period, the government collected Rs 10,518,119 in revenue, said information officer Navaraj Adhikari Bhatt. He said 1,534 tourists exited Nepal through the same border point.

Office data shows that 542 foreign tourists entered Nepal through Gaddachowki in 2022. The number increased to 983 in 2023 and 1,154 in 2024.

Although Sudurpaschim Province has significant tourism potential, tourists entering Nepal through the western border point often travel to cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Tourism entrepreneurs say that despite major tourist destinations such as Khaptad, Badimalika, Ramaroshan and Shuklaphanta National Park in Sudurpaschim, a lack of infrastructure and inadequate promotion has resulted in tourists entering through Gaddachowki travelling elsewhere.

“Gaddachowki is a major entry point for foreign tourists, and tourist cities in India are also nearby,” said tourism entrepreneur Jagadish Chandra Bhatt. “A tourism information desk should be established at the border point itself.”

He said arrangements should be made to provide tourists arriving through the border with information about tourist destinations in Sudurpaschim and other parts of Nepal through an information centre. He also stressed the need for coordination between the private sector and government to promote tourism.

Dinesh Malla, president of the Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said tourists continue to travel elsewhere despite the tourism potential of Sudurpaschim because of inadequate infrastructure development and promotion.

“We lack convenient infrastructure and other facilities to reach the attractive destinations we have,” he said. “The tourist destinations here should be promoted and an environment should be created to encourage tourists to stay here for at least one night.”

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