If Gautam Buddha Airport is operated at full capacity, millions of Buddhist tourists will come to visit Lumbini.
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In 2071, the foundation stone was laid to upgrade the Gautam Buddha Airport in Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa) to a regional international level. Its goal was to strengthen the nation's economy through the development and promotion of tourism in Lumbini, the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha. After this step of the government, entrepreneurs not only in the Lumbini region but also across the country were excited.
Investment in hotels, hospitality and tourism increased in the Bhairahawa-Lumbini region, especially. According to the data of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Lumbini Province Committee, there are currently 4 five-star hotels, 9 four-star hotels and 1 three-star hotel in operation in the Bhairahawa-Lumbini region alone. These hotels have been opened targeting the airport with the expectation that the tourism industry will flourish after the Gautam Buddha Airport comes into operation. More than one trillion rupees have been invested in the Bhairahawa-Lumbini region alone in the hotel business. After the construction of this airport, not only large star hotels, but also medium and small hotels and restaurants were added.
In addition to this airport, a large amount of money has been invested in the hotel business in Bardiya and Banke districts as well as Rupandehi. A large amount of money has been invested in the hotel business in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. More than 2,000 hotels and restaurants, both small and large, are in operation in the Lumbini province area alone. If we add up all these investments, it has reached trillions of rupees. After the inauguration of the airport on 2 Jestha 2079, the joy of industrialists and businessmen knew no bounds. New ones were eager to invest and old ones were eager to increase their investments. As we can see, the Bhairahawa-Lumbini region was filled with tourism infrastructure. And, the Bhairahawa-Lumbini region became a city of tourism infrastructure. However, after 4 years of its inauguration, the industrialists and businessmen of this region are now disappointed and saddened as the airport has not been fully operational.
In addition to Rupandehi, a large amount of money has been invested in the hotel business in Bardiya and Banke districts targeting this airport. A large amount of money has been invested in the hotel business in Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. According to the data of the Lumbini Province Committee of the Society of Travel and Tour Operators Nepal (SOTO Nepal), nearly one trillion rupees have been invested in the travel and tour sector. There are more than 200 such organizations operating in the Lumbini Province. The government has also invested trillions of rupees in the infrastructure sector.
This investment is now at risk as the airport is not operating at full capacity. Industrialists and businessmen have repeatedly demanded the government to operate this airport. Pressure programs have also been conducted, but the airport has not been able to operate at full capacity.
Businessmen in this sector say that they have high expectations from the newly formed two-thirds majority government.
Now, the businessmen want the new government to take the initiative for this operation and find a solution to the problem. The government should also take the initiative as soon as possible to arrange air and rail facilities for travel to tourist cities in India. It will not be difficult to arrange for labor, passport, health check-up and visa facilities from Bhairahawa, as demanded by the businessmen.
Thakur Prasad Shrestha, President of the Lumbini Province Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that billions of rupees of investment by the businessmen and the government are at risk as this airport is not operating at full capacity. Therefore, the government should take diplomatic initiatives with the Indian government for its operation. As soon as arrangements are made for flights from Bhairahawa to Delhi, India, an environment will be created to solve the problem. There is no problem for passengers. The demand for the operation of Gautam Buddha Airport is not only the demand of the Lumbini Province region, but also the demand of the Nepalese nation. This region can become the pillar of the national economy. If this airport is operated at full capacity, it will transform the tourism industry of the Lumbini Province region. Therefore, the demand for the operation of this airport is not only the demand of the people of Bhairahawa and Rupandehi but also of the entire Lumbini Province and the nation. This airport is the destiny of the people of Lumbini Province and Gandaki Province.
Foreign tourists who come to visit Lumbini also visit Chitwan and Pokhara. If we operate Gautam Buddha Airport at full capacity, millions of Buddhist tourists will come to Lumbini every year. This will greatly contribute to the prosperity of the Nepalese nation. Therefore, let us all work hard to operate this airport. If the Nepalese government is not successful in bringing this airport into operation, Nepal will have to suffer huge losses in the economic and social sectors.
If the government, especially the Ministry of Tourism and the Civil Aviation Authority, is committed, this airport can be brought into operation easily. The government should make a good business plan. A business plan should be made to bring all three airports - Tribhuvan, Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International - into operation simultaneously. Lumbini can attract not only Buddhists, but also other religious tourists in large numbers. Because Lumbini is the source of world peace. The main basis of economic development of the Lumbini province is tourism. Therefore, in this region, other tourist attractions in this province should be properly developed and promoted, keeping Lumbini, the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha, as the center, to extend the stay of tourists coming here.
