Commercial rafting trips have been launched in the Sunkoshi river for the first time with an aim to boost domestic and foreign tourism in the district.

The Department of Tourism is confident that the start of the rafting trips in the river will contribute in drawing tourists to district’s religious and historical heritage sites.

The Department’s Director General, Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, said the Tourism Department has lent its support to promote rafting in the district. He added that rafting was started as part of the government’s aim to develop tourism in all the provincial states.

Dhakal expressed the belief that the start of rafting trips would generate employment opportunities for the locals and promote hotel business.

The rafting trip in Sunkoshi river is not a risky journey and it is easy, said Tourism Board member, Gyanendra Shrestha, adding that a rafting trip will be of around two hours starting at Khurkot and heading downstream to Balini of Basheshwor.

The rafting was inaugurated by former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on Friday during which 320 people took to rafting in 32 boats, according to organizers. RSS