BHOJPUR: Sports events and fairs and festivals conducted at the local level have been helping promote tourism.

The arrival of athletes and sports enthusiasts from different parts of the country including neighboring districts has had a positive impact on tourism promotion.

Meanwhile, making sports as the basis for tourism promotion, the Paubadungma Rural Municipality of the district recently successfully completed the 3rd Paubadung Gold Cup football tournament and Maghi Fair.

Local products were also exhibited and sold during the Gold Cup and Maghi Fair. Stalls of domestic agricultural produce, handicrafts and traditional food attracted the attention of the visitors.

The rural municipality has stated that it has helped in the marketing of local products and has encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs.

Such events have also contributed to job creation, expansion of economic activities and building an identity of the rural municipality.

A large number of players, coaches, spectators and sports enthusiasts from various wards of the rural municipality, neighboring districts and other places in the country, were seen participating in the Gold Cup and Maghi Fair that concluded last Friday.

Local trader Dinesh Adhikari said that due to the visitors who came from outside to observe the competition, the hotel, restaurant and transportation businesses benefitted.

With the aim of promoting domestic tourism along with the development of the sports sector, the rural municipality has been organizing the Gold Cup and Maghi Fair in Pauwadung for the past three years.

According to Rural Municipality Chair Kiran Rai, sports competitions, fairs and festivals have been playing an important role in promoting the tourism sector. “There is a plan to continue such events in the coming days and make them more organised and well-functioned.”