Kathmandu. With the arrival of the New Year 2082, the country’s tourism sector has been boosted by the influx of tourists. Due to the arrival of spring and the annual school vacation, parents have taken their children out to promote domestic tourism, while government employees have also reached tourist destinations on vacation as their annual vacations are about to end.
Due to which, the influx of religious tourists has increased in religious places from Pathibhara in the east to Shaileshwari in the west. This has also helped the country’s economy to move along with the promotion of tourism. There is a large presence of domestic tourists in major tourist destinations within the country.
According to Binayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), the influx of tourists has increased in most tourist destinations on the eve of the New Year. ‘Hotels across the country have seen occupancy rates ranging from a minimum of 35 to almost 100 percent in some places. There has been a new lease of life in the business that had been sluggish for some time. ‘New Year’s Eve’ programs have been organized in Thamel, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini, Bhendetar and other areas, which has made tourism more dynamic.’
A large number of tourists have reached the country’s major tourist destinations, Pathibhara, Ilam, Tinjure, Dharan, Bhendetar, Basantapur, Makalu Base Camp, Khumbu Region, Sagarmatha Base Camp, Lukla, Barahakshetra, Budhasubba, Halesi, Dantakali, Kechanakawal, Chinnamasta, Janakpurdham and Bharattal. Similarly, Kalinchowk, Charikot, Shailung, Jiri, Panchpokhari, Helambu, Panauti, Palanchowk Bhagwati, Chitwan National Park, Sauraha, Madanbhandari Park in Hetada, Palung, Daman, Langtang, Gosainkunda, Nuwakot Durbar, Bandipur, Pokhara, Gorkha Durbar area, Kapilvastu, Tilaurakot, Ramgram, Butwal, Palla, Lumbini are considered major tourist destinations.
Bardiya National Park, Dhorpatan, Karnali Bridge, Kankre Bihar, Bulbule Lake, Shuklaphanta, Dodhara-Chadani Suspension Bridge, Api Saipal Himal, Swargadwari, Supadeurali, Baglung Kalika, Galeshwor, Muktinath, Lomanthang, Dang, Ghodaghodi, Dharapani, Shaileshwari, Badimalika, Raratal, Bageshwori, Swargadwari, Ranimal have become centers of tourist attraction in recent times.
Foreign tourists are reaching the Himalayan region for adventure tourism as the weather is suitable for trekking and mountaineering. A large number of domestic and foreign climbers have reached the base camp to climb mountains including Everest.
Not only the federal capital Kathmandu Valley, but most of the country’s tourist destinations are crowded with tourists. Destinations in the valley including Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Lakuri Jhanjyang, Godavari, Chandragiri, Khulekhani, Chitlang, Shivapuri, Kakani, Jarsingpauwa are crowded with domestic tourists. Dakshinkali, Pashupatinath, Swayabhu, Boudhanath, Basantapur, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square are full of tourists. Naveen Gurung of Nagarkot Almost Hotel in Nagarkot said that the occupancy rate at his hotel is 100 percent and that other hotels also have good occupancy rates.
Businessmen excited
Tourism in the tourism capital Pokhara has become lively on the occasion of the New Year. However, tourists have canceled some bookings due to the protests. Pokhara Tourism Development Council Chairman Tara Pahari said that the number of tourists in Pokhara increases by three to four days every year during the New Year.
‘Pokhara sees an increase in activity for two to three days during the New Year. Especially Indian and Chinese tourists are seen in more numbers,’ he said. According to him, destinations around Pokhara are full of tourists. The tourist atmosphere has increased in the tourist area of Lumbini. The New Year and festivals have increased the activity in the tourism capital Pokhara. According to Bishworaj Poudel, President of the Restaurant and Bar Association (REBAN), Pokhara, the occupancy has reached more than 70 percent at this time.
According to CP Shrestha, President of the Siddhartha Hotel Association in Bhairahawa, the occupancy in the area has reached more than 35 percent. He says that the arrival of the New Year has boosted tourism. Hotels in Bhairahawa are especially full of Indian tourists. Domestic tourists have also increased. Hotels have given various discounts and offers. According to the association, more than 150 hotels ranging from five-star to tourist-level are operating in Bhairahawa.
The tourist city of Sauraha has also seen an increase in the number of tourists during the New Year. According to Dhruv Giri, President of the Restaurant and Bar Association (REBAN), Sauraha, a significant number of domestic and foreign tourists have arrived in Sauraha. He said that various fairs and festivals have helped in promoting tourism in the New Year.
According to Ganga Giri, outgoing president of the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Chitwan, there is no room available in hotels in Chitwan. ‘The occupancy of hotels is 100 percent in the New Year, there are no rooms available in any hotel for up to three days,’ he said.
Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), also said that the new year will be a year of hope in tourism, which has added positive enthusiasm to the tourism business. He said, “The enthusiasm of tourism entrepreneurs has also increased as not only domestic but also foreign tourists are coming in significant numbers.”
Board’s activity
The Nepal Tourism Board has stated that the tourism sector is becoming dynamic and marketing for domestic and international tourism attractions is being taken forward with priority. The board’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deepak Raj Joshi informed that the board is aggressively working on international promotion. According to him, 17 BTB programs have been organized abroad in the last five months.
On the domestic side, the Nepal India China Expo has been completed, while the ‘East Tourism Mart’ has ended. Preparations are underway for the Sudupaschim Mart. An International Buddhist Travel Mart has been announced. Tourism has been promoted by taking foreign influencers and media to Nepalese destinations.
According to the board’s statistics, 1.147 million tourists visited Nepal in 2023. 1.115 million tourists entered Nepal in 2023. Before the pandemic, 1.197 million tourists visited Nepal in 2019. However, due to the Corona pandemic in 2020, the number of foreign tourists decreased by 81 percent to 230,085.
Similarly, 150,962 tourists visited Nepal in 2021. This goal will be easy to achieve only if the air infrastructure and road network are well-developed. Tribhuvan International Airport is operating at full capacity. However, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Pokhara International Airport in Bhairahawa have not been able to operate effectively. Although international flights are being operated at those two airports.
Chairman Shah believes that the country’s tourism will take a leap forward if the road network and air connectivity are made effective. Kumarmani Thapaliya, Chairman of the Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), informed that the new year has added positive energy to tourism.
Although there was a mixture of expectations and disappointment in the tourism sector in the year 2081, he believes that enthusiasm will increase in the tourism sector in the coming year. He said, “There were international flights at Bhairahawa Airport, but flights have been suspended in the latter half of the year. It can also be considered a year of expensive air services. Overall, hope is not lost, it is inevitable to take policy steps to bring results.’
There is a plan to attract more and more tourists by organizing programs like Visit Year in major tourist destinations during the New Year. In this context, Pokhara has set a goal of celebrating 2025 as Visit Year and attracting 2 million tourists. The Fewa Festival has begun in Pokhara. On the occasion of the New Year, ‘Nagarkot Visit Year (2082)’ is being organized in Nagarkot from April 1. The visit year is scheduled to be inaugurated by President Ram Chandra Poudel.
The visit year is being organized in coordination with the Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Development Committee with the aim of further promoting the nature, culture and history of the Nagarkot region. Committee Chairman Navin Gurung expressed confidence that there is a large influx of domestic and foreign tourists in Nagarkot on the occasion of the New Year and that the festival will bring more excitement to tourism.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्