China's Dragon Boat Festival Revenue Sparks Excitement for Potential Economic Impact in Pokhara Festival

China's recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday witnessed a surge in domestic tourist trips, reaching a total of 106 million trips, marking a 32.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported that tourism revenue during the three-day holiday amounted to 37.31 billion yuan (approximately 5.2 billion U.S. dollars), reflecting a significant 44.5 percent year-on-year growth.

Coinciding with the festivities in China, the two-day Nepal-China Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival 2023 commenced in the scenic city of Pokhara on Friday. The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, who expressed confidence in the cultural exchange program's ability to strengthen bilateral ties and attract more Chinese tourists to Nepal.

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The festival, aimed at fostering closer relations at a people-to-people level, was acknowledged by Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, who highlighted the longstanding economic, social, and cultural connections between the two nations. Ambassador Song expressed optimism that the event would significantly contribute to the promotion of tourism in Nepal.

The CEO of Nepal Tourism Board, Dhananjay Regmi, emphasized China's importance as a key tourism market for Nepal and anticipated that the festival, being organized for the first time in Nepal, would bring new dimensions to the country's tourism sector and enhance prospects in Pokhara.

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Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, underscored the festival's role in introducing innovative tourism products in Pokhara and committed to making it a regular occurrence rather than a one-time event.

The dragon boat race competition witnessed the participation of four Nepali teams and four Chinese teams, comprising a total of 160 participants from various provinces of Nepal and China. The event included a 200-meter race on the first day and will feature a 500-meter race on the second day, totaling eight races.

Courtesy: RSS

The victorious teams will receive a cash prize of two million rupees, along with medals and certificates. This collaborative festival, organized by multiple entities such as the Nepal Tourism Board, Embassy of China in Nepal, Pokhara Metropolitan City, and various tourism associations, aims to promote cultural and adventure tourism in the region.

Courtesy: RSS

The Dragon Boat Race Festival in Pokhara has the potential to bring significant economic benefits, similar to its impact in China. The event serves as a platform for cultural exchange and strengthens bilateral ties between Nepal and China, attracting a greater number of Chinese tourists to Nepal. With increased tourism, local businesses in Pokhara, such as hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops, can experience a surge in revenue. Additionally, the festival provides an opportunity to showcase Pokhara's natural beauty and adventure tourism offerings, enticing visitors to explore the region further. This boost in tourism and associated economic activities can contribute to the local economy's growth and development, creating employment opportunities and stimulating investment in the tourism sector.

The monetary figures have been sourced from the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS).