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Pashupatinagar (Ilam), May 1
Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Lokendra Bist Magar on Tuesday discussed with the farmers on agro-tourism potential in Ilam district.
Minister Bist had arrived here on Monday with a team to study about the agro-tourism potential in the district.
Interacting with the farmers of Barbote Village Development Committee (VDC), who have been involved in organic farming, Bist stressed the need to link the farming with tourism.
Ten Adhik1ari families of Barbote VDC Ward No.-9 have been involved in dairy, organic vegetable farming and fishery.
Appreciating the works of the Adhikari brothers, Minister Bist also advised them to improve their farming so as to attract domestic and international tourism.
Highlighting the importance of hospitality, local food items and traditional lifestyles for tourism, Minister Bist urged farmers to link their agriculture profession to tourism through a concept of agro-tourism.
The Adhikari brothers have recently established home-stay facilities in their homes to promote tourism in the village.
Minister Bist, who accommodated in their home-stay, also suggested that they should upgrade services in order to attract more tourists.
The farmers have expressed their satisfaction over the visit of the Minister to their village to promote agro-tourism.
Minister Bista also visited a cheese factory at Pashupatinagar.
Subash Nirola, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), who was also together with Minister Bist, said that the campaign of agro-tourism has started from Ilam district realizing the role of agriculture in improving the economic condition of the local people.
He stressed the need to promote the local cuisines by marketing them actively so as to attract domestic and international tourists to the rural areas.
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