Foreign tourist arrivals through Nepal’s Gaddachauki border in Kanchanpur rose to 1,753 in the last fiscal year, generating revenue of Rs 10,518,119, according to the Immigration Office Gaddachauki. During the same period, 1,534 tourists exited Nepal via this border. Tourist inflow has increased steadily in recent years, with 542 arrivals in 2022, 983 in 2023, and 1,154 in 2024.
The Gaddachauki border’s strategic location near Indian tourist cities contributes to this growth, said tourism entrepreneur Jagdishchandra Bhatta. Most tourists entering at this western point proceed towards Kathmandu and Pokhara rather than exploring local destinations in Sudurpaschim Province.
Sudurpaschim holds notable
tourism potential, including Khaptad, Badimalika, Ramaroshan, and Shuklaphanta National Park, yet these sites remain under-visited. The lack of sufficient infrastructure and effective promotion deters foreign visitors from staying in the region.
Bhatta recommended establishing a tourism information desk at the Gaddachauki border to provide travelers with details about local attractions. He emphasized that coordinated efforts between the private sector and government entities are essential to enhancing regional tourism promotion.
Dinesh Malla, Chairman of the Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted infrastructure challenges and insufficient publicity as key reasons tourists choose to visit other parts of Nepal. He stated, “There
is a lack of easy infrastructure and other facilities to reach the attractive destinations we have. We need to promote the tourist destinations here and create an environment for tourists to stay here for at least one night.”
