Santosh Pokharel
santoshpokharel
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SOCIETY
Pokhara awaits int’l flights: High expectations, limited returns
Pokhara awaits int’l flights: High expectations, limited ret...
The airport has remained far from the game-changer many had envisioned. Although the project raised hopes across Gandaki Province, it has also been mired in controversy. Nepal's anti-corruption agency has filed corruption cases against several former officials, alleging irregularities during constru...
Jul 15, 2026
ECONOMY
Annapurna hotels grow from huts to a billion-rupee industry
Annapurna hotels grow from huts to a billion-rupee industry
Annapurna region alone is home to over 1,400 hotels
Jul 12, 2026
SOCIETY
Authorities tighten Phewa safety rules, ban boating after 6 PM, solo kayaking under-16s
Authorities tighten Phewa safety rules, ban boating after 6...
The new directive prohibits all water-based tourism activities at the lake after the evening deadline.
Jun 30, 2026
ECONOMY
Direct Pokhara–Dubai flights to begin from September 23
Direct Pokhara–Dubai flights to begin from September 23
Daily flights for one month in initial phase
Jun 10, 2026
ECONOMY
Indian tourist arrivals surge, May sets new record
Indian tourist arrivals surge, May sets new record
According to data from the Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 102,626 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal in May. Of these, nearly 40 percent were Indian visitors. Last year, a series of incidents had made Indian tourists hesitant about traveling to Nepal. Natural disasters, accidents, and political prot...
Jun 04, 2026
ECONOMY
Lakeside sees rise in illegal activities, business leaders demand closure after 2 AM
Lakeside sees rise in illegal activities, business leaders d...
On October 8, 2023, the Pokhara High Court issued an interim order allowing Lakeside-area businesses to operate 24 hours a day. The order came after a petition was filed challenging the implementation of the Home Administration Reform Action Plan 2017, which envisioned 24-hour operation in major tou...
May 21, 2026
ECONOMY
Over 32,000 kilograms of trash collected in Nepal’s Annapurna trails in nine months
Over 32,000 kilograms of trash collected in Nepal’s Annapurn...
As tourist arrivals surge in the Annapurna region, local communities and conservation groups are intensifying waste collection and recycling efforts to protect Nepal’s fragile Himalayan environment from growing pollution.
May 20, 2026
ECONOMY
SAARC tourists make up 68 percent of visitors to Annapurna Region
SAARC tourists make up 68 percent of visitors to Annapurna R...
According to data from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), 104,227 visitors — around 68 percent of the total arrivals between January and April — came from SAARC member states, while the remaining 48,259 tourists were from other countries.
May 08, 2026
ECONOMY
Indian tourists account for nearly 35 percent of Pokhara’s tourism market
Indian tourists account for nearly 35 percent of Pokhara’s t...
Indian tourists account for nearly 35 percent of Pokhara’s tourism market
Tourism entrepreneurs say that after domestic travelers, Indian visitors now make up the largest share of arrivals in Pokhara. The influx is partly seasonal, as rising temperatures in Indian cities prompt travelers to s...
Apr 21, 2026
ECONOMY
Tourism sector eyes domestic visitors with the implementation of two-day holiday
Tourism sector eyes domestic visitors with the implementatio...
“Currently, Saturday holidays already push hotel occupancy to around 50 percent. With Sunday added, we expect longer stays,” Bharat Parajuli, a central committee member of the Hotel Association Nepal, said. “But for tourism to fully benefit, fuel supply must remain smooth, and the...
Apr 15, 2026