Heli-tour begins for promotion of Badimalika

Heli tours will be organized for the promotion of Badimalika, a tourist area of ​​the far west. The tour is being organized with various packages in the first phase for 10 days from Feb 13 with the promotion of Nepal Tourism Board, said the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) in a press conference in Kathmandu.

In collaboration with the Board, Far Western Province and Khaptad National Park promoters, NATTA Far Western Province, Mountain Helicopters Pvt. Ltd., arrangements have been made to visit the area from places including Dipayal, Khaptad, Badimalika and Safebagar Badimalika. Passengers will be provided a package of Rs 12,000 to Rs 40,000 depending on the location, according to the organizers.

At the press conference, Nepal Tourism Board member Krishna Shah said that it was necessary to make domestic tourism operational for economic development. He expressed confidence that the program would help boost tourism during the coronavirus pandemic. Hikmat Singh, senior director of the board, said that Indian tourists could also be brought to the event as the far western states are connected with various cities in India.

NATTA's Central Chairman Achyut Guragain said that the Far-Western region was a "virgin land" for tourism and the program would help in the promotion of tourism in the region. Similarly, Narendra Dev Bhat, advisor of NATTA Far-Western Province, said that there was a lot of potential for tourism in the Far-Western region and it was necessary to promote it for economic development. Dil Bahadur Oli, general manager of Mountain Helicopters, said that the company has brought tour packages at cost price for the promotion of tourism in the region.

Chairman of NATTA Far-Western Region, Mayaprakash Bhatta, said that the program would be fruitful for the tourists who want to visit the region as the major tourist destinations of the far-western region, including Khaptad Badimalika, are now covered in snow. Secretary of NATTA, Shivahari Pandey, said that the aim is to attract at least 350 domestic tourists to Khaptad and Badimalika in a period of ten days.