Entrepreneurs said they took out the rally to protest the various strikes and bandas in Sauraha that have had affected their businesses in the recent period. The rally started from Sauraha Chowk, moved through Bachhauli, and ended in Suraha Chowk, where a mass meeting was held.
During the meeting, local hotel operators and entrepreneurs, who numbered more than three hundred, also urged the parties not to politicize the tourism sector. To better get their message across, the protestors had even mobilized elephants in their rally. Elephants are widely used by the tourism industry in Sauraha.
“General strikes and bandas have started to take toll on our business. Hence, the rally was our endeavor to draw everyone´s attention to the problems they create,” said Hari Bhakta Shrestha, president of the Regional Hotel Association, one of the organizers of the rally. The Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal and local tourism organizations were the other organizers.
Sauraha is the gateway to the Chitwan National Park, one of the most visited tourist destinations in Nepal, but the blitz of strikes and bandas that the area has seen recently has made it difficult for hotels and tourism-related services in Sauraha to capitalize on their optimum location. Most of the strikes are carried out by workers affiliated with the Hotel Workers´ Union and the Elephant Drivers´ Association, who have been demanding that the entrepreneurs increase perks and provide better job packages. Although talks are underway to address their concerns, they have so far failed to yield the desired results.
“We are strongly in favor of holding talks to address concerns and resolve all forms of differences. And we are hopeful a breakthrough will be made soon,” said Shrestha.
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