Chitwan, Oct 31: Unlike in previous years, hotels in Sauraha, a major tourist hub near Chitwan National Park, are witnessing very few visitors this season. Except for the three days of the Tihar festival, tourist arrivals have remained minimal.
According to Om Pandey, Chairperson of the Regional Hotel Association, hotels in Sauraha used to see up to 80 percent occupancy during this time of year. “Now, not even 20 percent of the rooms are booked,” he said, adding, “How can tourists come in such circumstances?” He attributed the sharp decline in visitors to the negative international perception of Nepal’s security and stability.
Gunaraj Thapaliya, operator of Unique Wild Resort, said that while the number of European tourists has been relatively stable, arrivals from other countries have dropped sharply. “Political instability has discouraged Indian and Chinese tourists from visiting Nepal,” he added.
Domestic tourism saw a brief surge during the Tihar holidays, but it has dropped again as government offices and schools reopened. Pandey said that Indian and Chinese tourists, who normally account for about half of the total visitors during this season, are almost absent.
Former chair of the association Deepak Bhattarai noted that Sauraha typically experiences strong tourist flow from October to January, but this year the numbers have been unusually low. “The usual 80 percent occupancy has dropped to around 15 percent,” he said, expressing disappointment among hotel entrepreneurs.
Similarly, Prakash Nyaupane, General Manager of Banabas Resort, said that unless Nepal can project a message of safety and stability, tourism will not recover. “Before visiting any destination, tourists consider the peace and security situation. Negative reports about Nepal have led many to stay away,” he explained.
Currently, a few tourists from European countries such as Turkey, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands are visiting, but the absence of Indian, Chinese, and domestic visitors has made Sauraha unusually quiet.
Sauraha is famous for jeep, walking, elephant, and canoe safaris in and around Chitwan National Park, where visitors can observe rare wildlife, including one-horned rhinoceroses and Bengal tigers. The park is globally renowned for its safari experiences.
Sauraha hosts around 150 hotels, offering over 8,000 beds and providing employment to more than 6,000 people. However, the ongoing decline in tourist arrivals has deeply affected local businesses and livelihoods. #nepal #sauraha #tourist
