Two-day weekend boosts tourism in Dhankuta

By Kabiraj Ghimire, Hile, Dhankuta, May 31: Tourism entrepreneurs in Dhankuta District have expressed happiness as tourist activity has increased significantly following the introduction of a two-day weekend.

The rise in visitor numbers, coupled with longer stays, has brought new enthusiasm to the tourism sector. Compared to recent years, tourist arrivals in Dhankuta have increased considerably this year.

Popular destinations such as Bhedetar, Hile, Rajarani, Pakhribas and Sidhuwa have witnessed a noticeable rise in tourist activity.

According to Tumraj Limbu, president of the Hotel Association Bhedetar, tourist arrivals in Bhedetar have increased substantially compared to previous years.

Located about 17 kilometres from Dharan, Bhedetar is well known for its cool climate during the summer months. Limbu said that while visitors previously tended to return home the same evening, most tourists now stay overnight and only a few leave on the same day.

“Earlier, when there was only one-day holiday, tourists were in a hurry to return home the same day. Now, with a two-day weekend, they can stay comfortably and leave the following day,” he said.

He added that many visitors now spend two days exploring nearby attractions, including Namaste Waterfall, Namje and Pathibhara Temple.

Hile, which remained relatively quiet even during peak tourism seasons in previous years, has also seen a surge in visitors. Most hotels are now fully booked during holidays, and tourists often travel as far as Dhankuta Bazaar and Pakhribas in search of accommodation when rooms in Hile are unavailable.

Hotel entrepreneur Sushil Katuwal said the increase in tourist numbers this year has been remarkable.“Although this is the peak season, we have never experienced this level of enthusiasm in previous years. This year has been exceptionally good,” he said.

He added that tourists seeking cooler weather and those travelling to observe rhododendron blooms are now extending their stays thanks to the additional holiday.

Jeevan Rai, who operates a homestay in Hile, said the two-day weekend has provided some support to local tourism. However, he believed that destinations such as Tinjure, Cholung Park and Pakhribas have also played a major role in attracting visitors.

According to him, growing awareness of domestic tourism and the influence of seeing others travel have encouraged more people to explore the country, while the two-day weekend has further supported the trend.

Tourism entrepreneurs said that the sector, which slowed significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown notable improvement this year. Tourist activity has remained strong since the last week of March and continued through the last week of May.

Khagendra Bista, president of the Hotel Association Dhankuta, said the rise in tourism has not been limited to Bhedetar and Hile but has also been seen in Rajarani, Pakhribas, Sidhuwa and other destinations across the district.

He cautioned, however, that it remains to be seen whether this momentum can be sustained in the coming years.

Although no official statistics are available from any agency, Bista said there is little doubt that both tourist arrivals and tourism-related activities have increased significantly this year.