Kathmandu: The 19th edition of the Elephant and Tourism Festival has begun in Sauraha, the main tourist hub of Chitwan.
The festival, being held at the Baghmara Intermediate Community Forest grounds, started on December 26 and will continue until December 28. Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya inaugurated the event.
According to the organizers, the festival aims to boost domestic and international tourist arrivals in Sauraha. Hotel occupancy, currently around 40 percent, is expected to rise by 20 to 25 percent during the festival period.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, Deepak Raj Joshi said elephants are not just animals but an integral part of Nepal’s culture and identity. He stressed the need to address misconceptions surrounding the Elephant Festival and its cultural significance. Citing data, he noted that while the number of African elephants stands at around 1,000, the population of Asian elephants exceeds 40,000.
The CEO also highlighted that the festival serves as a strong link between elephant conservation and tourism, adding that a long-term roadmap will be developed to protect and increase the elephant population. He further emphasized the promotion of regenerative tourism and pledged collaboration with all stakeholders in the tourism sector.
Organizers said the festival is expected to promote tourism in Sauraha while showcasing local culture, biodiversity, and the importance of elephant conservation to a global audience.
