Daman area witnesses a sharp decline in tourist arrival

By Anil Parajuli,Hetauda, Feb.1: Hotels in Daman, a tourist area in ​​Makawanpur district, are now without tourists. 

 Local hoteliers said that more than half a dozen hotels in the Daman area, which once used to be fully occupied by domestic and foreign tourists, are now operating in lower occupancy.

Accessible by the country's oldest highway, Tribhuvan Rajpath, connecting the Tarai and Kathmandu, hotels of the beautiful mountainous area of Daman now look almost deserted. 

Locals said that tourism in the area had decreased with the expansion of the new tourist area and the addition of new destinations in recent times, as well as the operation of new road networks connecting the Tarai with Kathmandu.

Rajendra Bhujel, who has been in the hotel business in Daman for two decades, said that after the opening of new roads through which one could reach Hetauda from Kathmandu in three hours, the number of vehicles travelling through the Tribhuvan Rajpath decreased resulting in the decline of tourists to the Daman areas.  

“It takes six to seven hours to reach Hetauda from Kathmandu and vice versa from this road while one can cover the same distance in three hours via Hetauda-Kulekhani and Kantilokpath roads. So the number of people using this road section has fallen,” said Bhujel. 

Stating that he is able to only survive through the hotel business which he is running in his own home, he said that the hotel business itself has reached a state of collapse in a lack of tourists and passengers. 

Manju Sherpa, the owner of Hotel Sherpa, who has been operating the hotel in Daman for the past 22 years, said that the arrival of tourists had decreased by more than half. 

Although domestic tourists come from Birgunj, Chitwan and Hetauda during the winter season when there is snow, the arrival of tourists has been low this year as the area did not receive snow this year, she said.

Suraj Adhikari, the owner of Adhikari Hotel and Lodge, said that the business has decreased significantly this year compared to previous years.

Sudhesa Bhujel, who has been in the hotel business for four decades, said that although business was good when the Kulekhani-Hetauda road was not brought into operation, now the number of people passing through this highway has been quite low. 

She said they used to prepare regular meals earlier. “But, now we prepare meals only according to orders,” she said.

Govinda Prasad Ghimire, who has been operating the Daman Resort on a lease in Thaha Municipality in Makawanpur for 20 years, said that he is now rebuilding and operating the resort that was closed for some time. 

Stating that one can directly view more than 25 high peaks, including Mount Everest, from the Daman View Tower, he urged people to visit it as it has attractive trekking trails, temperate climate, various religious sites, abundant biodiversity and heritage.