Here is a longer summary:
Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayankaji Shrestha, hosted a dinner reception in Pokhara to welcome ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions from various countries. The occasion was the 74th Annapurna Day, which commemorates the first ascent of Annapurna I mountain in 1950 by French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachnal. During the event, Shrestha emphasized the government’s commitment to developing Nepal as a tourism hub, with a target of attracting 1.6 million tourists next year.
The government is working to identify and promote new tourism destinations, develop a tourism circuit, and promote adventure tourism activities in Pokhara, which is being developed as an important destination for adventure tourism. The DPM also highlighted Nepal’s spiritual culture and natural and cultural heritage sites, including Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, and Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
Shrestha urged the ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions to promote Nepal’s tourism in their communities and countries. He noted that Nepal is known globally for its spiritual culture and that tourists from all over the world come to visit its natural and cultural heritage sites.
The event also featured a trekking expedition from Dhampus to Astam in Kaski, which was organized in memory of the first ascent of Annapurna I mountain. The expedition was led by ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions, who marched to pay tribute to the brave climbers who achieved this feat.
Overall, the event was an opportunity for the government to highlight its efforts to develop Nepal’s tourism industry and promote the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to international audiences.