Dhankuta Municipality has initiated the process of formulating a tourism policy and guidelines with the aim of making local tourism professional, reliable, responsible, long-term and result-oriented. Despite prioritizing local production, promotion of domestic enterprises and agri-tourism, Dhankuta Municipality had not yet formulated a tourism policy.

Dhankuta Municipality Mayor Chintan Tamang said that in partnership with the Nepal Tourism Board's sustainable tourism project, a tourism policy and guidelines are being prepared covering the issues of local natural heritage, cultural and social identity of the local community, ownership and participation, infrastructure access, hospitality culture, security, quality and standards.

Suggestions are being collected on the city's concept, vision, identification of potential areas and destinations for tourism promotion, hospitality in homestays and hotels-restaurants, investment promotion and the role of the private sector, protection and promotion of cultural heritage, and tourism safety and risk management, said Mayor Tamang.

For this, the municipality is holding phased discussions with social organizations, professors, journalists, chambers of commerce and industry, transport entrepreneurs, and representatives of the Federation of Indigenous Peoples active at the local level. Tamang said, 'A tourism policy was necessary. Now this policy will guide what kind of tourism, who are the tourists, what kind of behavior, what facilities, what to show, explain and tell in Dhankuta Municipality.' He said that in the coming days, programs will be created and infrastructure will be developed according to the tourism policy.

Based on the suggestions received, the Information Officer of Dhankuta Municipality said that new programs and infrastructure development programs will be taken forward by preparing a tourism policy and guidelines. He said that homework is being done to develop a common vision among stakeholders in the tourism sector and prepare a practical and implementable policy.

Earlier, Dhankuta Municipality has conducted tourist guide training for local youth to promote local tourism and create employment. In collaboration with the Nepal Mountain Training Institute, 15 youth from Dhankuta Municipality were provided with a seven-day training on the conduct, practical knowledge, etiquette, communication skills, safety awareness and responsibility required for tourist guides.

The youth participating in the training have received training from tourism workers, historians and geologists on the history, customs and culture, language, geographical features, accurate and reliable information and guidance for tourists.