kathmandu : The Nepal Tourism Board has announced that a Nepal-China “Friendship Dragon Boat Race Festival” will be held in Pokhara, Nepal, with the support of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and the Pokhara Metropolitan City.
The festival is scheduled to take place for the first time on June 23-24, 2023, as stated by the board. The Pokhara Tourism Council and the Nepal-China Overseas Association will be co-organizers of the event. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the board and the Chinese Embassy officials for the program.
The board has stated that the aim of organizing the festival is to enhance cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries and to increase Chinese tourists in Nepal.
The event was signed by Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya of the Pokhara Metropolitan City and board member Madan Acharya, and executive chief Dr. Dhananjay Regmi and Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Vang Jin from the Chinese Embassy in Nepal. This is said to be the first time such a dragon boat race festival will be organized in South Asia.
Eight special guests, including voters, from China will be coming to Nepal for the race festival. Additionally, all seven provinces of Nepal will participate in the festival.
Speaking at a signature program, Pokhara Mayor Dhana Raj Acharya stated that this type of program will add new dimensions to tourism in the country. He also stated that this program will add new products to Pokhara’s tourism and will be held every year.
Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of the board, stated that through the Vote Race Festival, cooperation will be made to further enhance tourism in Pokhara.
This program, which will involve the participation of trilateral cooperation and other stakeholders, will attract many tourists, according to their statements.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, mentioned that Pokhara has become an attractive destination for Chinese tourists, and the festival will further deepen cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Therefore, a food festival will also be held on this occasion.