Nepal to host Asian rural tourism festival

The Asian Rural Tourism Festival 2017 will be held from March 3-6 at Bahundangi in Nepal. The festival has been an annual event since 2012 and is aimed at raising awareness of the people living along the Mechi River in eastern Nepal and north Bengal about wild elephants.

Speaking today at a press meet at the Siliguri Journalists' Club, Arjun Karki, president of the festival organising committee, said various awareness programmes will be launched besides promoting local cultures and tradition. There will be stalls on conservation of orange orchards, bee keeping and tea branding, which will help visitors pick up value added practices and know about living museums and local food products. The event will also witness cultural performances by the Rai, Tamang, Gurung, Dhimaal, Limboo and Newar communities.

Raj Basu, convener of the Association for Conservation of Tourism, the supporting organisation, said stakeholders from Bhutan and Bangladesh will also participate, to give complete focus on rural tourism connectivity and networking. Tour operators and travel agents from Nepal such as NATA, TAAN, PATA are expected to take part in the festival, he said.
Rabi Nepal, vice president of the festival organising committee, said Indian cultural troupes comprising dancers, singers and models for ethnic fashion display will also be participating. (EOIC)

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