Nepal's Sirubari Village Tourism Project has been awarded the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award 2001 in recognition for its "exceptional achievement" and innovation. The prize is to be handed over when PATA meets for its convention in Malaysia on 9 April.

Sirubari is a Gurung village located about 20 km southwest of Pokhara. The village has mainly stone and slate houses and no electricity but its trails are well kept and the houses have clean toilets. Tourists visiting Sirubari are expected to live with families. The villagers provide accommodation and the meals are what the hosts themselves eat. There is running water in the village and tourists are provided hot water for showers. The money that tourists pay to stay in Sirubari goes directly to the residents, a major goal of village tourism.