Revival Of Tourism

Nepal has always been an enchanting land where modernity seamlessly blends with ancient festivities.  For spiritual seekers worldwide, its mystical allure is a big draw. The pull of these features is so strong that, despite occasional setbacks, the tourism industry will revive to its former glory sooner rather than later.  With the arrival of the month of Kartik (mid-October), Antu – a popular tourist destination in Ilam district – is packed with tourists. As the skies have cleared, crowds of tourists have descended on Antu. On Sunday morning alone, around 2,000 visitors watched the sunrise from the Antudanda. Many others have come to explore other attractions in the area, such as enjoying boat rides in Antu Pond, tea gardens, bird watching, and observing the lifestyle of the endangered Lepcha community, among other attractions. 

Homestays are full of visitors, the highest tourist turnout since the COVID-19 pandemic. A large number of tourists have arrived with their own vehicles from the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, and Assam. Many have come to pay their homage to Pathibhara Devi, a prominent pilgrimage site, located in Kutidanda, the next hill. The influx has been so high that 20 new homestays have been opened to accommodate the growing numbers.  

Lying hundreds of kilometres west of Ilam, the Bhurung Tatopani (hot spring) – along the Beni-Jomsom road section of the Kaligandakin Corridor in Myagdi – has similarly seen the surge of visitors. Domestic and foreign tourists are crowding the natural hot-water pool throughout the day. The situation is no different in Mustang's Muktinath.  With a steady rise in tourists travelling to Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani, Mustang and other Himalayan destinations via Beni, the natural hot spring has become one of the busiest stopover points in the region. Between 1,200 and 1500 people bathe here daily. In recent years, the area has morphed into a popular rest point for trekkers to unwind, beat the cold and relieve fatigue after an arduous journey in the mountainous region.

This sign of tourism revival comes at a time when the tourism industry is trying to shake off the fallout from the Gen Z movement and get back on its feet. This is also a reminder that no matter how severe the blow it takes, the industry bounces back quickly to open its doors to visitors. That said, some of the major star-rated hotels that were vandalised or subjected to arson attacks during the movement are poised to take months, if not more, to resume operation. The Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has put the loss at an estimated Rs. 25 billion, a huge amount indeed. The blaze not only burned the critical tourism infrastructure to ashes but also wiped out the livelihoods of thousands. The horrifying destruction also deterred would-be visitors from setting out on the journey, and prompted those already here to shorten their stay, reviving the memories of the pandemic era.   

Tourism is one of the major earners of foreign currencies for Nepal. Contributing nearly 7 per cent to the GDP, the industry employs over a million people. Given its outsized importance, the government cannot afford to leave it in the cold. It needs to do whatever is necessary to provide much-needed succour to the wounded sector so that it recovers as quickly as possible. Once it is on the road to full recovery, beaming tourism entrepreneurs and caregivers everywhere will once again roll out the red carpet for visitors to serve them with the same legendary hospitality the nation is globally renowned for.