Tuesday, April 4, 2023
On March 30, Nepal celebrated the Sixth Accessible Tourism Day by traveling along the ‘wheel trek trail’ at Basuki Thumka, a hill flank at Sanga Village, Kavre District. More than 40 wheelchair users took part, along with a large number of well-wishers, people’s representatives, accessibility experts, community leaders, and government officials.
The planned winding wheel trek trail will take wheelchair users over two kilometers of gentle incline to the top of the Basuki Thumka. With the assistance of the Bagmati Provincial Government and the local community, a 400-meter section of the trail through pristine pine forest has been completed.
When the full trail is completed, visitors will be able to see a broad panorama of the Himalayan chain to the north, as well as views of Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding hillsides, from the top of the hill.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the International Development Institute (IDI), and Four Seasons Travels & Tours launched Accessible Tourism Day on March 30, 2018.
The Spinal Injury Sangh Nepal (SISN) arranged the Basuki Thumka event this year, with the help of the aforementioned organisations, as well as the Miral Welfare Foundation and the Sanga village community.
The inspection of the ‘Basuki Thumka Wheel Trek Trail’ was conducted by Hon. Laxmi Ghimire, a member of the Bagmati Province Assembly and wheelchair user, as well as Dr. Shanta Dixit, Chair of the SISN, which operates the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Clinic (SIRC).
Uddhav KC, a community leader, thanked the wheelchair users and supporters for coming and expressed optimism that the wheel trek path, in addition to being a destination for domestic and foreign tourists, will also support the local economy.
Following the wheeltrek trip, a panel discussion on ‘Tourism for Everyone’ was conducted at the Spinal Injury Rehabiliation Centre (SIRC), which is located at the base of the Basuki Thumka mountainside.
Dr. Raju Dhakal, Medical Director of SIRC, moderated the discussion, emphasising the relevance of wheelchair tourism for the physical and mental well-being of the spinally wounded.
Kanak Mani Dixit, founder chairperson of SIRC, opened the discussion by explaining his coinage of the term “wheel trek,” whose purpose was to allow wheelchair users to experience Nepal’s hills and mountains routes with other trekkers. He proposed that wheel treks in Nepal might be enjoyable for both local and foreign wheelchair users, as well as contribute to the national economy as accessible tourism grows.
Among the panellists, Suman Ghimire, senior manager of the Nepal Tourism Board, stated his organization’s commitment to supporting the aims of ‘Tourism for Everyone’ through accessibility promotion.
Suman Raj Timsina, Director of IDI, emphasised the organization’s previous work to establish wheelchair paths throughout Nepal, especially in Dhulikhel and Pokhara.
Pankaj Pradhananga, Director of Four Season Travel & Tours, stated that the government’s dedication and the private sector’s dynamism will go a long way towards assuring the success of the campaign for barrier-free accessible tourism.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
