BHAIRAHAWA: Mayor of Siddharthanagar Municipality, Istiyak Ahmed Khan, has announced plans to develop Bhairahawa into a model tourist city of Nepal through new policies and programs.

Speaking during a debate program on “Bhairahawa City: Industry, Tourism, and Trade,” Mayor Khan said the municipality is committed to promoting tourism, improving urban management, and strengthening the city’s identity as a major tourism and business destination.

Tourism entrepreneur Chandra Prakash Shrestha said Bhairahawa has strong potential to emerge as a tourism hub due to its convenient air and land connectivity. He stressed that the upcoming government budget and programs should prioritize the city’s tourism development.

Shrestha, who is also a central member of Hotel Association Nepal and president of the Siddhartha Hotel Association, noted that Bhairahawa already has sufficient tourist-standard hotels, casinos, spas, clubs, and restaurants to support the tourism industry.

Participants at the discussion emphasized the need to expand domestic flight services from Gautam Buddha International Airport to various parts of the country in order to boost tourist arrivals.

The city is also home to the Belahiya Border Point, Nepal’s busiest land entry point for third-country tourists. Direct bus services from Belahiya and Bhairahawa connect travelers to destinations across the country, with hundreds of buses operating daily.

Former vice president of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, pledged support from construction entrepreneurs in beautifying and developing Bhairahawa into a well-managed tourist city.

Similarly, Khim Bahadur Khatri, treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce Lumbini, said greater attention should be given to improving the city’s trade and tourism-friendly environment.

Entrepreneur Saluja Ramdam highlighted the importance of making Bhairahawa a women-friendly city, stating that such efforts would help expand tourism and entrepreneurship opportunities. She also called for special programs to encourage female entrepreneurs.