The 'Third Village Tourism Fair' will be organized in Pokhara on May 9 and 10 to highlight the potential of village tourism and connect local tourism professionals with the market. Organized by Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki Provincial Office and co-organised by Village Tourism Promotion Forum Nepal (Vitof) Gandaki, the fair will be held at Lakeside.

Maniraj Lamichhane, head of Tourism Board of Pokhara, said that the fair is going to be organized with the aim of contributing to the promotion and marketing of village tourism in the context of the tourism industry being the main basis of the prosperity of Gandaki province. According to him, the fair will provide an opportunity for local tourism businessmen to promote their services, connect with the market and establish direct contact with potential tourists. In a press conference held on Tuesday to inform about the

fair, Unal said, 'The main purpose of the fair is to connect the homestay and other tourism services in the village with the market, highlight the potential of village tourism and create jobs in the village by stopping youth migration.' 25 stalls of community homestays and tourism professionals will be kept during the

fair period. As part of the dialogue program, there will be a discussion about the possibilities, challenges and opportunities of village tourism, the role of media and industrialists in promoting village tourism. Cultural performances of different castes will also be performed through the cultural program, said Shobha Sapkota, president of Vitof Gandaki. He believes that the fair will promote the identity of the tourist village and help in the marketing of the products and services produced in the village. It is expected that there will be significant presence of policy makers, local level representatives, students, domestic and foreign tourists in the