Gandaki. Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara have pledged support and cooperation in marketing and promotion for the sustainable operation of Pokhara-Dubai direct flight from September 22.

At an interaction organized by Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) Gandaki in Pokhara on regular Pokhara-Dubai flights, it was stressed on the need of making this flight effective and sustainable.

Chairman of Pokhara Tourism Council, Hari Bhujel, said that the flight of Fly Dubai to Pokhara would not only benefit the tourism sector but also contribute to the economic activities of the entire Gandaki Province and the country. He said that the future of Pokhara is linked to the success of Pokhara’s success as regular inter-country flights are being operated from Pokhara International Airport after a long wait.

Chairman Bhujel said that the tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara would work unitedly to make the Pokhara-Dubai flight successful and sustainable. Executive member of Nepal Tourism Board Santosh Pokharel said that it was the responsibility of all sides concerned to make the Pokhara-Dubai flight successful. “Fly Dubai has come here believing in Pokhara and we all should support from our respective places,” he said.

He said that for the sustainability of this flight for the first time, the challenges should be faced and the opportunity should be turned. He said that the flight of Fly Dubai will help in giving recognition to the tourism capital Pokhara in the international world. Nawaraj Shahi, General Manager of Fly Dubai in Nepal, said that the ticket price from Pokhara is up to five thousand cheaper than Kathmandu.

Stating that Flydubai has been operating direct flights to more than 120 destinations around the world, he urged the entrepreneurs associated with NATTA to help in ticket booking. General Manager Shahi said that discounts and other facilities will be provided to passengers and partner organizations during the promotion of Pokhara-Dubai flights.

Binod Abraham, Regional Manager for South East Asia, Fly Dubai, gave a presentation on the services and features of Fly Dubai. He said that if the Pokhara-Dubai flight is successful, other international airlines will also be attracted to Pokhara. Regional Manager Abraham said that the support, cooperation and solidarity of all parties is needed to make the flight service sustainable and effective.

NATTA Gandaki Chair Sangita Poudel said that not only the tourism entrepreneurs but other regions of the country would also be directly benefited from the success of the Pokhara-Dubai flight. He said that the Pokhara tourism entrepreneurs are committed to provide necessary support and cooperation for the success and continuity of this flight.

Pokhara Metropolitan City (KMC) and Fly Dubai have also signed a memorandum of understanding to continue their collaboration in the areas of mutual interest, including tourism promotion, marketing of destinations and expansion of international air connectivity.

This flight is expected to further contribute to tourism, trade and economic activities along with the expansion of international air connectivity of Pokhara. Various organizations in Pokhara have shown interest and initiative to make direct flights from Pokhara to Dubai sustainable. The cooperation of locals and all stakeholders will be important to make the flight service sustainable.

With this flight, the citizens of Gandaki Province and its surrounding areas will be able to directly reach more than 250 destinations of the world such as London, New York, Tokyo. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had given permission to Flydubai for daily flights to Dubai-Pokhara-Dubai last May.

In the meantime, Flydubai has already announced flight training. Initially, Flydubai announced that it will fly once a day for a month, but it has said that bookings are open till March 26, 2027.

In the policy and program of the current fiscal year, the government had said that it would take diplomatic initiatives to attract international airlines to Pokhara International Airport. The direct flight to Dubai, the global air transit hub, will connect Pokhara to the international air network.

This flight service will also be beneficial for the passengers and general public going to other countries including Arab countries for foreign tourism, study, excursion, etc. Foreign tourists will be able to come directly to Pokhara for tourism including Pokhara, which is also the tourist capital, through the Pokhara-Dubai flight.