Call to resume flights in Kanchanpur Airport
Kanchanpur, Jan 18: The tourism business in region has not taken a pace as expected due to failure to operate the Majhgaun Airport of Kanchanpur district for 18 years.
Most of the vital tourist sites in the region have remained in shadow for lack of promotional activities and others.The airport constructed with the investment of millions of budget has not operated flights since 2055 BS. It is said that the runway of the airport is being used as a driving training centre for the learners.
Outgoing chairman of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ganesh Dutta Joshi said that their repeated pleas to the government to resume the airport were not heard adding that air service was vital for the promotion of tourism industry.
He was of the argument that the entrepreneurs have not made investments in the tourism industry as there were no foreign tourists due to lack of air service.
“Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Shiddhababa, Jhilmila lake, Bedkot lake, Bishnu Mandir and other tourist sites in the district are in shadow due to the same reason,” he added.
Likewise, an official of Gaddachauki-based Nepal Tourism Board, Thaneshwor Lekhak, said that the number of visitors to the region is very nominal. He added that just two foreigners visited the far-west region last year while no foreign tourist has arrived so far this year.