The 19th edition of the Elephant and Tourism Festival officially began in Sauraha on Friday, a major tourist destination in Chitwan, with organisers hoping the event will help revive tourism and promote elephant conservation.

The festival, being held at the Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest in Sauraha, will run until Monday. The inauguration ceremony was officiated by Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya.

Stakeholders from the tourism, forest and environment sectors, local business owners, tourism entrepreneurs, media persons and members of the general public attended the opening ceremony.

According to the organisers, the primary objective of the festival is to increase both domestic and international tourist arrivals in Sauraha. At present, hotel occupancy in the area stands at around 40 percent, but hoteliers expect occupancy to rise to nearly 60 percent during the festival period.

To attract more visitors, hotels and restaurants in Sauraha have announced various discounts on food and accommodation services throughout the festival.

Speaking at the event, Nepal Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Deepak Raj Joshi said elephants are not merely animals but an integral part of Nepal’s culture, history and identity. He said the common perception of Nepal solely as a nature-based destination is incomplete, noting that elephants are deeply connected to the country’s cultural heritage.

Joshi added that the Elephant Festival acts as a strong bridge between tourism and conservation. He said the tourism board will play a leading role in elephant conservation and population enhancement, guided by a long-term roadmap.

He also reiterated the board’s commitment to promoting regenerative tourism and expressed readiness to move forward in collaboration with all tourism stakeholders.

A wide range of cultural, sports and entertainment programmes are being organised throughout the festival. On the first day, a procession was held starting from the entrance gate of Chitwan National Park, followed by an elephant penalty shootout competition and various cultural performances.

On the second day, the festival will feature live elephant beauty contests accompanied by traditional music, an elephant health camp, interaction programmes, boat races, additional sports competitions, and cultural shows showcasing folk songs and dances.

The final day will include elephant worship, an elephant picnic, the announcement of results of various competitions, the distribution of prizes and certificates, the official closing ceremony, and an evening of cultural performances, according to the organisers.

Organisers believe the festival will not only promote tourism in Sauraha but also help convey messages related to local culture, biodiversity and elephant conservation at both national and international levels.