50th Int’l Whitewater Rafting Festival Concludes, Calls Grow for River Protection and Adventure Tourism Policy

KATHMANDU: The 50th International Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking Festival and the 24th Himalayan Whitewater Challenge concluded on Thursday on the Trishuli River, with tourism leaders and adventure sports stakeholders calling for stronger river conservation policies and greater global promotion of Nepal’s water-based tourism industry.

The three-day international competition, organized to promote adventure tourism, river sports, and eco-friendly water tourism in Nepal, brought together athletes, rafting operators, and tourism officials from across the country.

Competition Results Across Multiple Categories

In the Kayak Mandatory Run category, Rabindra Chepang secured first place and won a cash prize of NPR 100,000. Dammar Bahadur Purwachhane finished second, while Jason Gurung placed third and Rabin Gurung came fourth.

In the Kayak Sprint event, Jason Gurung claimed the top position, followed by Rabindra Chepang in second place. Keshav Gharti Magar finished third and Krishna Khadka secured fourth place.

The Kayak Cross competition was won by Dammar Bahadur Purwachhane, while Rabindra Chepang finished second. Surendra Chepang secured third place and Mohan Rana came fourth.

In the 10-kilometer raft race, the team from Paddle Nepal claimed first place and won NPR 50,000 in prize money. Jaldevi Adventure finished second, Nepal Kayak Club secured third place, and Rafting Adventure Nepal placed fourth. A total of 11 teams participated in the rafting race.

Recognition for Pioneers of River Tourism

During the closing ceremony, organizers also honored Himalayan Exploration for pioneering water-based tourism in Nepal decades ago, recognizing its role in introducing commercial rafting in the country.

Tourism Leaders Call for Policy and Conservation

Tourism officials and rafting industry leaders used the occasion to highlight the need for stronger river conservation and clear policy frameworks to sustain Nepal’s growing adventure tourism sector.

Ram Prasad Sapkota, vice-chair of the Nepal Tourism Board, said tourism remains a critical pillar for employment generation and national economic growth.

He noted that Nepal has strong potential to become a global hub for adventure tourism but emphasized the importance of legal frameworks, safety standards, and river protection measures to sustain the industry.

Sapkota also stressed the need for clear classification and regulation of river use, particularly to balance hydropower development, river extraction activities, and rafting tourism operations.

Push for Global Promotion of Whitewater Tourism

Hikmat Singh Ayer, senior director at the Nepal Tourism Board, said international participation in such competitions should be expanded in the coming years.

He suggested organizing international events every three months along the Trishuli corridor, which is located close to Kathmandu, to strengthen Nepal’s global reputation as a world-class whitewater rafting and kayaking destination.

Concerns Over River Exploitation

Adventure tourism stakeholders also warned that uncontrolled river exploitation could threaten Nepal’s natural assets.

Kamal Thakuri, president of the Nepal Association of Rafting Agencies (NARA), emphasized that river conservation must become a national priority.

“If river exploitation cannot be stopped, Nepal’s natural heritage may remain only in history,” Thakuri warned, noting that rafting tourism is not only a recreational activity but also a major livelihood source for thousands of people.

Former NARA president Chandra Bahadur Dahal highlighted the festival’s five-decade history and said it has become an important platform for promoting river-based tourism.

He called for a dedicated river tourism policy covering the stretch from Baireni to Narayanghat along the Trishuli River, aimed at protecting the ecosystem while expanding tourism activities.

International Judging Panel

The competition was judged by a panel including Nepali experts such as Bharat Gurung, Dipesh Gurung, Jeevan Gurung and others, alongside international judge Anna Mathe.

According to Chunamani Aryal, secretary general of NARA, the international festival has helped promote Nepal’s adventure sports tourism industry while drawing attention to the urgent need for river conservation and sustainable tourism development.