Santosh Pokharel

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...

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.

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.

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...

“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...

Asian visitors increase, Americans and Europeans decline

Under the previous system, even if a guide was hired, solo travellers were not permitted to enter restricted areas. Tourists were compelled to find a partner to meet the minimum group requirement, which often led to inconvenience and, in some cases, forced arrangements with unfamiliar individuals.

According to business owners, hotels and restaurants use multiple cylinders at once and operate high-pressure stoves, making half-filled cylinders impractical for the sector. They have also informed the Kaski administration that full-capacity cylinders (14.2 kg) are necessary for tourism businesses.

Ongoing tensions in Middle Eastern countries have prevented several international pilots from participating in an upcoming paragliding competition in Pokhara. A total of 15 pilots from different countries who had registered for the event scheduled in the skies of Sarangkot have been unable to travel...

According to tourism entrepreneurs, the ongoing conflict in the region has disrupted travel routes, preventing many visitors from reaching Nepal. Some tourists have been stranded mid-journey, while others have postponed or canceled their plans altogether.