Kathmandu: The meeting of the Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Subject Committee, chaired by Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, concluded in Thakurbaba, Bardiya, with several significant decisions aimed at promoting cultural tourism and heritage conservation in Nepal.

The meeting decided to establish a mechanism to conceptualize cultural tourism development based on the Karnali, Gandaki, and Koshi river civilizations. This mechanism will include representatives from all three tiers of government and will develop a detailed action plan within a month. Experts from the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM), cultural scholars, the head of the Department of Architecture from the Institute of Engineering, and representatives from private and large investors will form part of this mechanism.

To address irregularities in temple construction, the committee mandated the use of local materials such as wood and mud instead of iron, cement, and corrugated sheets. It also emphasized ensuring minimum community participation and contribution in temple construction projects.

In another decision, the committee announced plans to organize a Food and Cultural Festival in February. The event will involve municipalities, provinces, and the federal government in Nepal, with invitations extended to nearby districts and organizations in India.

Additionally, a week-long heritage tour will be conducted in February, featuring representatives under 40 years old from the legislative assemblies of each state in India and China. The committee also decided to select two schools from each province to establish model cultural and tourism clubs and develop procedural guidelines for their operation.

The meeting further endorsed the provincial adoption of the Trekking Route Construction Standards, 2081, and deliberated on the Tourism Decade Action Plan.

These decisions aim to foster sustainable tourism, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance regional cooperation in tourism and cultural exchange.