By Rick M 
Pokhara, the pride of the Nepalese Gandaki province, celebrates its recent promotion to Nepal’s tourism hub with excitement and creativity. Subsequently an announcement made by the Nepalese government has initiated a chain of changes in order to make the city alluring to the visitors across the world. This is among the greatest strides particularly in the decision to relax working many crucial business institutions to make the city functional all times of the day.
Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Surendra Raj Pandey has come up with the progressive plan where bars, restaurants, spas, grocery, and snack shops in tourism cities like Lakeside, Prithvi Chowk, Mahendrapul, and Chipledhunga will be allowed to open up to 1 AM. These changes are set to increase people’s ability to enjoy the nightlife and more explore the overall hospitality of the city.
However, the “open till late” services come with a couple of strings attached. The establishments have to meet set functional requirements to protect the lives of the tourists and residents. Such balanced planning practice is also in line with Pokhara vision and actions to embrace international tourist while at the same preserving the quality of life of its people.
Tourism: After significant years of Pokhara’s recognition in the traveling world as one of the most important tourism hubs. The official credit is believed to confirm the aesthetical value, historical values, and other values of the city as well as the initiatives of stakeholders in the city to ensure they develop international standard facilities in relation to tourism potential. With calm water, meaning that water activities are a main standout feature of Pokhara, there is an adventure for every tourist, whether in the waters or the mountains nearby.
Tourists seeking adventure activities are particularly rewarded by Pokhara for its numerous activities. Paragliding has emerged as the characteristic of the city through which the tourists get a direct view of the Annapurna range. Other outlawed adventure such a zip-lining, white-water rafting help in creating the euphoria adrenalin junkies desire. At the same time, the calmness of the water, the overall non-tractionless of the area, and the actual resorts and meditation centers are for those seeking a little R&R as well as the spiritual kind.
Government involvement in developing Pokhara as the tourist city is not only limited to the extended working hours from 10 p.m. Efforts are being made to increase investments in the infrastructure, speed up connectivity and bluwash. Such endeavours will attract more people to pay visits and offer employment to the citizens in the region as well as enhance growth of the economy.
As Pokhara begins to embrace its new responsibilities, a spirit of hope can be seen among proprietors of businesses and tourism companies. Most view the official endorsement and related programs as an opportunity to present the advantage of Nepali hospitality and natural beauty to the world. Lalitpur is likely to be a role model city in terms of sustainable development of tourism with special reference to the Himalayan states.
However, with this newly discovered status comes the challenge of ensuring that such features characterizing Pokhara are maintained. There is a renewed focus on the conservation of the environment as the lakes and forests, which make up a major part of the city’s attractions, are threatened. University programs to promote this change are also being developed to ensure that the gains from growth in tourism are well spread across the people in the region.
As Pokhara prepares to write this new chapter, the stakeholders of the tourism industry are on the lookout. The experience of the transition of the city to the new role and the ways it managed to balance between growth and sustainability or failure will help to understand better lessons and findings for other global cities that aim to become successful tourist destinations. For now, Pokhara is always waiting to greet the traveler at any time in their preference, providing a combination of adventure, culture, and beauty in the middle of Nepal.