Pokhara, Nepal – A special chartered flight of Sichuan Airlines carrying 129 passengers landed at Pokhara International Airport at approximately 10:30 AM local time on December 26, 2024. The flight brought Chinese participants for the 2nd International Dragon Boat Race Festival, a prominent event promoting tourism and cultural exchange.
The delegation was warmly welcomed at the airport in a special program attended by the Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, officials from the Nepal Tourism Board, representatives of the Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), the Nepal Dragon Boat Association, and other travel trade fraternity members.
The International Dragon Boat Race Festival, officially launched in Pokhara last year, is a key event highlighting the region’s tourism potential. This year, the competition will be held on December 29–30 (14th and 15th of Poush) at the scenic Fewa Lake.
The event is organized by the Gandaki Provincial Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, and the Nepal Tourism Board, with co-organization by the Nepal Dragon Boat Association, Pokhara Tourism Council, and the Pokhara Overseas Chinese Association.
A total of 20 teams will compete in the festival, including 11 teams from Nepal, 8 from China, and 1 from Singapore, in 200-meter and 500-meter race categories. The festival is expected to draw significant local and international attention, fostering Nepal-China cultural ties and promoting Pokhara as a prime tourism destination.
