Integrated tourism information center at ABC entrance

POKHARA, March 10:The entrance of world famous Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) an integrated tourism information center has been established and put into operation at Birethanti located in Annapurna rural municipality of Kaski district.

The center's primary goal is to ensure the safety of the tourism industry by providing tourists with early notice of their visit region.

The center was developed for 60 lakh rupees in collaboration with the Gandaki provincial government and the rural municipality. According to the rural municipality, the center has three staff, including an information technology officer.

Annapurna rural municipality Chairman Bishnu Bahadur KC stated that the Tourism Information Center, which has been established at the entrance to the world's best Annapurna trekking route, will provide tourists with necessary information and assistance in quickly rescuing tourists in the event of an emergency. According to him, the rural municipality has already planned the operation and administration processes for the tourism information center.

"We have established a tourism information center to publicize, disseminate, and promote the village's natural heritage and traditional art and cultural richness to world tourists," he said, adding that "it will add innovation to the development of the tourism sector and make the integrated tourism business safe, reliable and trustworthy."

The information center will provide assistance with inquiries, information on the village's tourist, historical, and religious sites, hiking routes, weather, trekking guides, and rules to be followed within the protected area.

Similarly, services such as coordination for emergency rescue and treatment, communication of lost goods, email access to the Internet, biological diversity research, Himalayan region and culture, climate change research, information and research on the combination of tourism and technology, and community mobilization samples will be provided.

According to Bharatman Gurung, the rural municipality's spokesman, the integrated tourism information center now houses an inquiry/help room, a service delivery room, a tourism library, a museum with handicraft and domestic product displays, and a sales room. According to him, the municipality has also provided 35 licensed trekking guides with skill training.

A tourism portal and mobile app with information on tourist, historical, and religious areas, tourist trails, information on important places, 360-degree view, virtual tour, photos, videos, and activities available in the village area, as well as hotels and homestays in the municipality, by making the information center more technologically advanced. The app has also been launched.

According to reports, the information center will give diverse skill training such as trekking guides, hotel management training, and handicraft production to help the tourism industry as a whole grow. According to spokesperson Gurung, the information center would be developed as a hub for research on biological diversity, the Himalayan area and culture, and climate change.

He informed me that service centers can be constructed and managed in various areas depending on the needs. Birethanti serves as the entryway to the Annapurna base camp, as well as the popular tourist destinations of Ghorepani and Poonhill. Tourists start their trek from Birethanti and reach Poonhill and Ghorepani.