"Interior decoration works were going on full swing when the earthquake struck. Though my hotel is ready now, I don't have the confidence to open it as all the Chinese tourists returned home after the earthquake and there are no signs of Chinese tourists coming to Nepal anytime soon," Bin added.Bin, who has taken the 14- room hotel on lease for 10 years, has to pay Rs 250,000 per month as rent. "I have already spent Rs 25 million for maintenance and decoration. But I have not been able to formally open the hotel," Bin said, adding that it was becoming difficult to meet even the operating cost.
Not only Bin. Most of the entrepreneurs, who have invested in Chinese-themed hotels and restaurants in Lakeside, are facing problem as foreign tourists and domestic visitors barely enter these establishments. Chinese tourists are the major customers of these properties.
"Chinese tourists come to Nepal via Tatopani as airfare is expensive. But with road linking Tatopani and Kathmandu damaged, new entrepreneurs are facing more problems," said Bin.
How Samtiwn, the promoter of China Town Restaurant in Lakeside, said though other restaurants are getting few guests, Chinese restaurants are almost empty. "Tourists from other counties do not enter Chinese hotels and restaurants mainly due to language problem," he added.
Chinese investors told Republica that they have been disseminating message that Nepal is safe. "But Chinese are still hesitating to visit Nepal. It seems that we will have to operate the business in loss for few months. We have received few bookings in September though," Samtiwn, who has been operating the restaurant for last seven years, said.
It is estimated that around 70,000 Chinese visit Pokhara annually.
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