When it comes to the tourism industry, one of the most important celebrations is the World Tourism Day that is celebrated on September 27 every year. While tourism related companies all around the globe celebrate this day in their own manner, this year, Nepal extended this celebration by sharing the gift of tourism for all.
On December 3, 2022, a group of 14 individuals including wheelchair users, visually impaired, hard of hearing, and amputees representing thousands of individuals similar to them arrived 2,500 meters above sea level at Chandragiri hills via a 12-minute-long cable car journey. In order to take inclusive tourism further, Four Season Travel & Tours collaborated with this group to celebrate and mark International Day of People with Disabilities.
The event organized by Kathmandu based Four Season Travel & Tours in partnership with Chandragiri Hill Resort was a continuation of an accessible tourism initiative in order to promote Nepal as a destination for all. The Nepal Tourism Board, eTurboNews, and the International Development Institute were partners of the event. The initiative of inclusive tourism kicked off in a collaborative and coordinated manner in 2014 after the visit of Dr. Scott Rains to Nepal, and 8 years later it still continues to build the same much needed momentum and collaboration.
Special highlights of the event
Dr. Dhananjay Regmi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, reinstated NTB’s commitment to show support for such initiatives and events as it has been doing for the past years to encourage and foster tourism for all. A great example of NTB’s commitment is the first accessible trail that was built near Pokhara in 2018.
Ram B. Tamang of SIRC shared his adventure on a wheelchair from Namobuddha to Lumbini and Lumbini to Bodhgaya in India raising awareness about disability rights and road safety.
Sunita Dawadi (Blind Rocks) shared her take on why more tourism attractions should be made accessible and expressed her gratitude towards the event.
Pallav Pant (Atulya Foundation) highlighted that safety should be paramount while promoting Accessible Tourism and appreciated the accessible facility of Chandragiri.
Sanjeev Thapa(GM of Chandragiri) thanked the organizer and participants for choosing Chandragiri which has been a model of accessible resort in Nepal. He expressed his solidarity to promote this movement and announced that Cable Car will offer a free trip for Persons with Disabilities for a week to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
This excursion was then brought to a joyous end via an interactive session moderated by Pankaj Pradhananga, Director of Four Season Travel.
Nepal tourism has taken one big leap forward as it expands its service and its adventures to all regardless of their individual challenges. Inclusive tourism is enthusiastically growing to ensure that the beauty and adventures of Nepal can be experienced by every individual. Despite all the challenges, Destination Nepal is learning to get it right and position Nepal as a destination for all.
