BANDIPUR: Nepal's rural tourism movement took a tangible step forward this week as the Village Tourism Mart 2026 opened in Bandipur — the Queen of the Hills — introducing for the first time a safari-style community immersion experience that takes visitors directly into village homestays as a structured tourism product.

The four-day mart, inaugurated on Friday by Industry and Tourism Minister Yashoda Rimal, brought together homestay operators from 11 districts of Gandaki Province, international and domestic tourism entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders for a programme that combined B2B networking with on-the-ground rural exploration.

On the mart's first two days, participants visited community homestays in Rumsi and Ramkot of Byas Municipality-14, Tanahun — a first-of-its-kind safari-style rural visit coordinated by local tourism entrepreneur Basanta Paudel and his team. The format, which places visiting trade and media directly inside the village tourism experience rather than observing it from a distance, is being seen as a model worth replicating across Nepal's diverse rural circuits.

NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi, speaking at the inauguration, said the growing global appetite for meaningful, community-based travel experiences is an opportunity Nepal cannot afford to miss. 

"There is a rising demand for immersive experiences and meaningful engagement with local communities," he said. "We are working to expand tourism awareness, promote exploration, and strengthen practical approaches." NTB Board Member Narendra Dev Bhatt echoed the sentiment, describing rural tourism as Nepal's authentic identity and the mart as a crucial platform for strengthening it.

Minister Rimal framed the event within the broader decentralisation agenda, noting that local governments are now primary drivers of community development. "Tourism is a key driver in strengthening rural economies. It is essential to connect local communities with tourism to create sustainable livelihoods," she said.

A highlight of the mart was the formal handover of the Village Tourism Mart flag to Gorkha Municipality, confirming that the next edition will move to the historically rich district. Mayor Krishna Bahadur Rana Magar accepted the flag and pledged to use the platform to revive Gorkha's profile as a destination. 

"Historically significant Gorkha has been somewhat overshadowed in recent years. This tourism mart will help bring it back into the spotlight," he said.

Bandipur Rural Municipality Chairperson Surendra Bahadur Thapa noted that village safari programmes have already proven effective in linking tourists to homestays and building integrated rural circuits — a model the mart is now helping to formalise and scale.

The event concludes on Saturday with a closing and farewell ceremony.