Dashain hotel packages selling fast, if not already sold out

KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Despite a rise in tariff, hoteliers said Dashain packages are selling fast, if not already sold out. Due to the increased room tariff, the packages this year are costing 15-20 percent more than last year but that does not seem to be stopping domestic tourists from buying vacation packages for Dashain.



Yogendra Thapa, sales and marketing director of Hotel Barahi, Pokhara, said enquiries from individual clients are high this year.[break]



Earlier, mostly travel agents would book Dashain packages for their clients. “We have limited rooms under Dashain package and they have all been sold out for October,” he said adding that the festive package is valid till mid-November.



Similarly, officials at Fulbari Resort and Spa, Pokhara, opined that the sales were satisfactory. “People have started looking for newer destination but Pokhara is still an ideal destination and sales so far are satisfactory,” Pabitra Basnet, sales and marketing officer of the resort, said.



Suman Ghimire, sales and marketing director of Jungle Safari Lodge, said a 20 to 30 percent growth in the sales of Dashain packages has been recorded. “The bookings for the days between Dashain and Tihar are higher compared to pre-Dashain period,” he said adding that traveling culture among domestic tourists is picking up especially in festival times.



Hoteliers say non-resident Nepalis who return to Nepal during festivals are more interested in Dashain packages. Ghimire said, “Although the number of locals is satisfactory most of the clients are non-resident Nepalis and Nepalis staying abroad.”



Hotel Barahi, a three-star hotel in Pokhara, had introduced a Dashain package for a couple at Rs 9,999. The package is inclusive of accommodation for two nights and three days with two meals a day. The package also includes one hour boating and half-day sight seeing.



Similarly, the Dashain package at Fulbari Resort Pokhara costs Rs 6,999 per person for Nepali and Rs 7,499 for resident expatriates and includes daily buffet breakfast and one festive dinner.



The Dashain package at Jungle Safari, which is valid till mid-October, comes at Rs 4,444 per person on twin sharing  basis. The two nights and three days package comes with three meals a day, jungle walk, elephant ride, cultural program and others. Movement of local visitors has seen a positive fallout on restaurants as well, where people stop for lunch and dinners. Ashwini Acharya, senior director of sales and marketing at Everest Hotel, said that the number of local clients coming for lunch and dinner is growing. “Festival time calls for celebration and people these days prefer to eat out and travel,” he added.

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