August 31: The Pokhara Metropolitan City has given priority to tourism in the three-year periodical plan with the slogan of Prosperous Tourism Pokhara. The visionary plan for sustainable and rapid development of Pokhara, which is very important in terms of tourism, is an attempt to lay the foundation stone of socialism.

In connection with the country’s long-term thinking vision of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali', the plan has set a target to achieve dignified life, happy, civilized, and just society, and good health. Environment, good governance and strong democracy, national unity, and respect have also been included in the three-year plan.

The periodic plan emphasizes that tourism policy and code of conduct will be formulated and implemented to develop the metropolis as a tourism hub. Literature, art, culture, tourism promotion, and enterprise development have been prioritized. It has been mentioned that the periodic plan will play a leading role in the protection, enhancement, and promotion of all language speakers as well as art, culture, literature, religion, and cultural heritages within the metropolis.

It has been stated that Pokhara will be developed as a tourist destination in the world map by developing the tourism business with an innovative approach  in the changing environment.

The three-year periodic plan aims to build a socialist-oriented society as envisaged in the constitution of Nepal by radically transforming the entire metropolis with the participation of the people, according to Ram Chandra Lamichhane, vice chairperson of the Urban Development Commission of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

"The development principles, visions, goals, objectives, strategies, strategic programmes, and activities have been formed in line with the development plans and principles of the metropolis," he added.

According to him, the periodic plan has set a target to achieve the goals of clear blue lakes, rich culture, safe city, and inclusive physical infrastructure. The periodic plan prepared by the commission covers 35 topics.

With the objective of developing and expanding the necessary legislation and infrastructure for tourism, Pokhara will be developed as a center of world tourism destination. The metropolis plans to generate employment and income-generating opportunities.

Similarly, the periodic plan includes strategies to develop the tourism sectors and to develop the skills, capacity, and efficiency of the human resources required for the tourism business on a regular basis.  It also aims to establish partnerships between Pokhara Metropolitan City and other metropolis, including foreign and domestic metropolitan cities and municipalities, and to co-operate with various stakeholders.

The periodic plans aim to beautify houses and settlements, plant trees on both sides of the road, plant bamboo shoots, and other trees along the river banks, manage public toilets, create necessary policies and resources for entrepreneurship to develop an extensive tourism project of the metropolis and develop it as a special tourist destination of South Asia. To do so, groups will be formed and mobilized for professional development of tourism by promoting art, literature, and culture within the metropolis.

The metropolis aims to raise capital through cooperatives, microfinance companies, Pokhara Infrastructure Development Corporation, and public limited companies with the joint participation of citizens.

“As the happiness and prosperity of the people of Pokhara is the first and last goal of this periodical plan, we expect the cooperation of various parties to prepare this master plan dedicated to the people of Pokhara,” said Manju Devi Gurung, Deputy Mayor and Coordinator of the Planning Facilitation Committee.

She added that this was the first roadmap for the sustainable and rapid development of Pokhara Metropolitan City under the Constitution of Nepal 2072 BS and the Local Government Operation Act 2074 BS.