Some guests could not reach their destinations
POKHARA, March 9: Tourists from European countries who arrived at the start of the trekking season have begun cutting short their stays and returning home. Tourism entrepreneurs in the trekking regions say travelers are reducing their itineraries due to fears of disrupted flights. Many European tourists, despite starting treks, are returning before completing their planned schedules.
Tourism operators in the Annapurna region report that foreign guests are leaving early due to air travel disruptions caused by conflicts in the Middle East. Several airlines connecting Middle Eastern countries had even halted flights to Kathmandu, affecting travel to Nepal.
Middle East tensions force mass hotel booking cancellations in...
“Even those who have managed to arrive are in a hurry to return. They are worried whether they can reach home safely, so they are cutting their planned stays short,” says Dilip Gurung, a tourism operator on the Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) trekking route. “Many had arrived before the conflict escalated. Their return schedules were slightly delayed, but once air travel was affected, they panicked. They were worried whether they could get home the next day.”
According to him, uncertainty in flights disrupted bookings, preventing tourists from completing their planned itineraries. “The expected tourist activity for this season has not fully materialized. While more European tourists were yet to arrive in Nepal, those who had already come are leaving early,” he added. He also noted that some tourists could not even reach their intended destinations, and the trekking trails now see mostly Indian hikers.
Most foreign tourists entering Nepal (excluding neighboring countries) use Middle Eastern airspace. Currently, conflicts in the Middle East have halted flights, affecting arrivals. Airlines from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Dubai transport most American and European tourists to Nepal. The ongoing disruptions have raised concerns among tourism operators about the season’s arrivals.
Jagan Gurung, a tourism operator in the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trekking route, said European tourist visits have been particularly affected. “While some Asian tourists have arrived, there is a shortage of European visitors. The conflict in Middle Eastern countries has impacted their travel plans,” he said. Currently, most tourists in the Annapurna Base Camp area are Indian, Malaysian, and Chinese. “We are in the trekking season, but European tourists have not arrived as expected. Flight disruptions are the main issue,” he added.
Dharmraj Panthi, former president of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), confirmed that Middle East tensions have impacted trekking tourists, leading many to shorten their stays. “Travel was already slightly affected by elections, and now Middle Eastern conflicts have worsened the situation. Once the tensions ease, tourist arrivals are expected to resume,” he said.
Mani Raj Lamichhane, head of the Tourism Board, Gandaki, also noted that the conflict affects high-spending tourists, mainly from the US and Europe. “European and American tourists typically spend more, and their reduced arrivals mean Nepal may mostly receive budget travelers. The absence of high-spending tourists could limit expected benefits for the tourism sector,” he said.
