Tourist stay duration shortened, poor roads, high airfare blamed

By Santosh Subedi,Kaski, Dec. 4: The period from October to December is considered the peak tourism season. However, Nepal witnessed a noticeable decline in tourism activities as tourists visiting Nepal are staying for a shorter duration compared to previous years.

According to tourism entrepreneurs, by the last week of November, the tourism sector had already started slowing down.  Krishna Acharya, President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Gandaki Chapter, said that the tourism season is already coming to an end.

“This time, the tourist season was unusually short. Even though tourists arrived, they could not stay for long. Trekking routes have also shortened. In past years, tourist arrivals would remain steady for a longer period, but this year, the slowdown began in the third week of November,” he explained.

He further said that what used to be a three-month tourist season in previous years lasted only about a month this time, with the remaining period being relatively quiet. He attributed the decline to road and air travel challenges. 

“Delays in the construction of the Muglin-Pokhara road section have caused inconveniences to the tourists. It now takes 12 to 13 hours to travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara, discouraging visitors. Bad weather and high airfare have contributed to the problem,” he added. Not only have new visitors decreased, but even the plans of returning tourists have been disrupted. Acharya highlighted that tourists have shortened their stays in Nepal, which has directly impacted the tourism industry.

Acharya expressed concerns that the difficult travel conditions might also affect the upcoming season. “The hassle of travel may deter foreign tourists from planning trips to Nepal. Airfare has skyrocketed and incomplete road construction means hours-long travel delays, diverting potential tourists to other destinations,” he explained.

Laxman Subedi, President of the Pokhara Hotel Association, reported that the current hotel occupancy rate is only around 40 per cent. While occupancy had gradually increased during the peak season, it dropped suddenly. 

“We experienced peak season for only about a month, from mid-October to mid-November, with occupancy rates reaching around 70 per cent. However, it has significantly declined since then. The season could not extend beyond a month,” he said. Subedi shared that Pokhara is currently hosting European, Indian and domestic tourists, with very few Chinese visitors. “Some school groups have been visiting, but unlike previous years, there are far fewer foreign tourists, even during the peak season. Various factors have contributed to this decline,” he concluded.