New year brings enthusiasm in tourism industry

With the arrival of the New Year (2023), new enthusiasm has been added to the country's tourism sector. The tourism sector, which has been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, is slowly on the way to recovery. The new year has brought enthusiasm in the tourism sector, which is in the direction of tourism revival. Also, New Year is considered as a celebration for the tourism sector. On this occasion, as the movement of domestic and foreign tourists will increase, it also raises positive hopes among businessmen. 

First Vice President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) Vinayak Shah said that on New Year's Eve, there was an increase in activity in the tourism sector. There is a rush of domestic tourists. 'New Year's Eve' program has been organized in Thamel, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini, Bhandetar and other areas, it has made tourism more dynamic.

Vice President Shah says that hotel bookings are also encouraging. The hotel has the capacity to accommodate 2.5 million tourists in 2022. He believes that foreign tourists will increase if the environment for Chinese tourists is created. He said that 65 to 75 percent of the numbers are expected to 'recover'.

Director Lamichhane mentioned that the tourism sector, which recovered only 14 percent in 2021 and 18 percent in 2020 due to the epidemic, is expected to be positive in the coming days. "We (the tourism sector) are returning to the rhythm. 70 percent revival is expected this year. Big 'events' including New Year will help in increasing tourism. In all respects, the tourism sector is moving in a positive direction", said Director Lamichhane. As the Pokhara Regional International Airport is also going to be operational with the new year, foreign tourists are bound to increase after the country has three international-level airports.

The festival, which is organized in the new year in Thamel, which is full of local and foreign tourists, has brought a special charm. The tourist city of Pokhara, Sauraha in Chitwan, Lumbini and other destinations are full of guests.

The movement of domestic and foreign tourists has also increased in Sauraha of Chitwan, which is a tourist city. According to Deepak Bhattarai, President of Regional Hotel Association Chitwan, this year's booking is not as good as last year. He said, "Looking at festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Christmas, there is not as enthusiastic an arrival as last year, but we are hopeful that it will be good."

President Bhattarai said that before the COVID epidemic, the hotel was filled with foreign tourists who could not even get a room, but last year there was about 80 percent of hotel bookings, but this time the booking was not good. Before COVID, 2.5 million tourists, domestic and foreign, used to visit Sauraha every year. This year, it is estimated to be around 65,000. There are 120 hotels in Sauraha. It has the capacity to carry 10,000 passengers daily.