Pokhara, 28 January | The 18th Annual General Meeting and 7th Convention of the Hotel and Restaurant Association Lekhnath, held on Monday, has unanimously elected Suresh Lamichhane as its new president. Lamichhane, who previously served as the general secretary of the association, will now lead the umbrella organization representing hospitality entrepreneurs in the former Lekhnath municipality area. Along with Lamichhane, the convention elected a fresh executive committee including Bishnu Hari Subedi as Vice President, Shakti Shree Koirala as General Secretary, Rajendra Subedi as Secretary, and Mukti Subedi as Treasurer. The newly formed committee also consists of members Prakash Sapkota, Nirmala Thakali, Amrit Lamichhane, Rabibhakta Thapa, Anil Dhakal, and Om Shrees Magar. The election process was overseen by a committee coordinated by Damodar Bhakta Thapa, with former presidents Krishna Prasad Timilsina and Arjun Lamsal serving as members.
During the convention, the association honored Surya Lamichhane for his significant contribution to promoting the Majhikuna area on the banks of Begnas Lake as a prominent destination for both domestic and international tourists. Addressing the inaugural session, Maniraj Lamichhane, Head of the Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki Province, emphasized the need to transform the Begnas area into a “New Pokhara” to prolong the stay of tourists visiting the region. He stated that developing diversified tourism activities around the seven lakes of Lekhnath is essential for the sustainable growth of the local hospitality sector. Other speakers at the event highlighted that the natural beauty and tranquility of Begnas Lake offer a unique alternative to the bustling Lakeside of Pokhara, which should be leveraged through strategic branding and infrastructure development.
The program saw participation and support from various local leaders and tourism stakeholders, including Ward Chairperson of Pokhara-31 Dhakanath Kandel, Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Januka Adhikari, and Vice President of Pokhara Tourism Council Hari Bhujel. Navaraj Adhikari, Head of the Pokhara Metropolitan Business Promotion Center, and Damodar Bhakta Thapa, Co-coordinator of Visit Pokhara Year, also stressed the importance of aggressive marketing for the Lekhnath region. Outgoing President Birbhadra Kandel presided over the session, where the annual progress report was presented by then General Secretary Suresh Lamichhane and the financial report by Treasurer Shakti Shree Koirala. Newly elected President Lamichhane pledged to strengthen the unity among local entrepreneurs and continue promotional campaigns like “Jaun Hai Begnas” (Let’s go to Begnas) to elevate the region’s profile on the global tourism map.
