Som Thapa

Tourism in Pokhara

History Of Tourism In Pokhara

Initially, Pokhara was explored as a transit point for mountaineers around 1950 and 1960. It was explored by a few thousand tourists in 1962. The first historic ascend of Mt. Annapurna (8091 m.) on June 3, 1950 by a French national Maurice Herzog and a team of mountaineers was the historic pioneer step in exposing Pokhara as a mountainous tourist destination in the world. Dr. Tony Hagen, the Swiss Geographer visited Pokhara in 1950. British Colonel Jimmy Roberts in association with globally pioneer package tourism inventor, Thomas Cook (United Kingdom) in 1966 added another milestone for the exposition of Pokhara and its surrounding areas from the perspective of tourism. However, the literature shows that it was popular among the visitors even before the century as quoted in the travelogues published by E. Kawaguchi (1899). It is a fortune for all of us which also deserves our responsibility of saving and preserving this gift and make presentable for all. A sense of collective effort emerges not only for its preservation but also to expose such paradise on earth to the world’s people. Pokhara is the transit point for the tourists intending to go to Annapurna region. That is why tourists first arrive Pokhara and then proceedto Annapurna area. Those who have planned to visit Pokhara, are also found to be fascinated to visit Annapurna area too as they hear and see about it. So, the Annapurna region and Pokhara are interconnected and inseparable from tourism point of view.

Hippies were also the first Westerners to reach Pokhara in Western region in the 1970s. From the time of the monk Ekai Kawaguchi who travelled Nepal and visited Pokhara in 1899 to Maurice Herzog’s climbing expedition in 1950 and Toni Hagen’s geographical researching tour in 1952, Pokhara was visited by fewer foreigners. However, it was the Hippie era which made not only Nepal but also Pokhara famous in European and American markets. The year 1970, when hippies started coming to Pokhara making significant change in tourism, can be considered the opening decade of modern tourism in Pokhara. They have enormous roles for exploring new mountainous tourist sites that contributed to the identification of new trekking routes and sites in Annapurna and other regions of Nepal.

Pokhara Tourism Council

Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) is a nonprofit making organization representing the tourism industry of Pokhara in Western Nepal. It was established in July 1995 as a Pokhara Toursim Promotion Committee and in 2002, officially established in the name of Pokhara Tourism Council with the major objective of playing role of coordinator to promote and develop tourism industry in Pokhara in an organized way.

It also plays a vital role to coordinate with all the stake holders for the development of tourism related infrastructures in Pokhara, providing suitable and reliable services to the tourists, promoting Pokhara both nationally and internationally, safeguarding the professional rights and interests of tourism agencies and making best efforts to keep the natural environment of Pokhara as neat, clean and healthy.

As an umbrella organization, it comprises of eleven major tourism and non tourism organizations as its members. These organizations include Pokhara Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI), Paschimanchal Hotel Association Pokhara (PHAP), Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Western Regional Association, Pokhara, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Regional Association Pokhara, Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN)- Pokhara Chapter, Taxi Entrepreneurs Association Pokhara, Pokhara Bus Entrepreneurs Association, Trekking Equipment Shops Association (TESA) Pokhara, Embroidery and Garment Association (EGA) Pokhara, Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA) and Ganesh Laxmi Charitable (GLC) Trust Pokhara.

Development of eco tourism, responsible tourism and tourism related human resources through various capacity building activities (e.g. trainings, exposure visits, seminars, etc.) are the key thrusts of PTC. On behalf of all the member associations, PTC co-ordinates with Nepal Government, foreign agencies, tourism associations, local governmental bodies and other stakeholders. It also acts as one of the pressure groups to provide visionary suggestions and valuable ideas to the government to assist in formulating sound plans and policies for the sustainable and eco- friendly development of tourism in Pokhara.

Tourism Related Institutions In Pokhara

Tourism Office Pokhara

Opens daily, except Saturday and public holidays
From 10 am to 5 pm
Tel: 061- 520028
Email: pokhara@tourismkaski.gov.np

Immigration Office

Opens daily, except Saturday and public holidays
From 10 am to 5 pm
Tel: 061- 521167

Annapurna Conservation Area Project

Opens daily, except Saturday and public holidays
From 9 am to 4 pm
Tel: 061- 431102
Email: info@kmtnc.org.np
URL: www.kmtnc.org.np

Nepal Tourism Board

Opens daily, except Saturday and public holidays
From 10 am to 5 pm
Tel: 061- 465292
Email: pntb@wlink.com.np

Western Regional Hotel Association

Tel: 061461474
Email: pokharahotels@bb.com.np
URL: www.pokhara-hotels.org

Pokhara Tourism Council

Tel: 061-462489 /462466
Email: tourismpokhara@gmail.com
URL: www.pokharatourism.org.np

Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN)

Tel: 061 – 463033/466921
Email: info@taanpokhara.org
URL: www.taanpokhara.org

Nepal Association of Tour and Travels (NATTA)

Tel: 061 – 463114
Email: nattapokhara@gmail.com
URL: www.nattapokhara.com.np

Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN)

Tel: 061 – 466893
Email: pokharareban@gmail.com
URL: www.rebanpokhara.com

Nepal Air sport Association

Tel.061-464826
Email: airsportsnepal@gmail.com
URL: www.nepalairsport.org.np

Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)

Tel: 061 – 520264/522264
Email: pccipkr@gmail.com
URL: www.pokharachamber.org.np

Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)

Tel: 061 – 560386/061-560631
Email: lekhccci@yahoo.com
URL: www.lekhnathcci.org.np

Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)

Annapurna Chapter Pokhara
Tel: 061 –
Email: nmaannapurna@gmail.com

Taxi Association Pokhara (TAP)

Tel: 061 – 521447/524011

Trekking Equipment Shop Association (TESA)

Email: tesapokhara@yahoo.com

Pokhara Bus Entrepreneurs Association

Tel:061-538873/550280