POKHARA: Flights are set to operate from Pokhara International Airport to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Local tourism entrepreneurs are enthusiastic about the news that regular flights will operate starting this September 23. This marks the guarantee of regular international flights three years after the airport came into operation.

Dubai-based airline Flydubai has opened ticket bookings to operate daily flights starting from that date. With this, the first-ever regular international commercial flights will operate from Pokhara International Airport.

Pokhara is a city rich in natural beauty, adventure tourism, and cultural heritage. Now, with the expansion of international air connectivity, new possibilities have opened up for the promotion of tourism in this region.

Previously, the airport had only seen charter flights to countries like China and Bhutan, alongside emergency medical flights to India.

Dhanraj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, stated that he views the Dubai flights as a significant achievement in expanding Pokhara’s international identity.

He added that this is not just about adding an air service, but an opportunity for tourism promotion, attracting investment, and decentralizing the Kathmandu-centric air traffic.

Bharat Parajuli, a central committee member of the Hotel Association Nepal, recalled that previous discussions held with the Ambassador of the UAE regarding tourism exchange and direct Pokhara-UAE flights were positive and productive.

“The operation of regular flights to the UAE will make a significant contribution to expanding tourism, trade, investment, and people-to-people relations,” he said.

Pom Narayan Shrestha, the immediate past president of the Pokhara Tourism Council, expressed confidence that the Dubai flights would inject new energy into Pokhara’s tourism industry.

Similarly, Mamata Neupane, President of the Organized Women Tourism Entrepreneurs Forum (OWTEF), stated that the start of regular Pokhara-Dubai flights creates a vital opportunity to directly connect Pokhara’s tourism sector with the international market.

Once daily flights commence, it is expected to directly benefit youth heading for foreign employment from Gandaki Province and neighboring districts, students going abroad for higher education, and other passengers.

With the start of regular international commercial flights from Pokhara International Airport, which was inaugurated on January 1, 2023, Pokhara is expected to further establish itself as the country’s second major international air gateway.

It has been informed that passengers can book tickets for the Flydubai service through the company’s official website and authorized travel agencies. (RSS)