KATHMANDU, Sept 28: Tourism entrepreneurs in Lumbini have decided to resume their businesses by announcing various offers for tourists. The move is aimed at reviving the tourism sector which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Lumbini Hotels Association, hotels in the region have announced various discounts on their accommodation and food services to attract domestic tourists.
The hotel association has invited tourists to Lumbini to enjoy their services along with the discount offers. The offers and schemes have been publicized to attract tourists to revive the tourism sector which has been hit hard by the pandemic. Tourism entrepreneurs who have faced heavy losses in business due to the pandemic are hoping to attract tourists to the region with their offers.
According to Mithun Shrestha, chairman of the Hotel Association of Lumbini, it has been decided to offer a discount of 25 percent on accommodation and 10 percent on food. “The offer is valid for everyone who will come to visit Lumbini,” he said.
Tourism agencies announce discount offers in view of Visit Year
Shrestha has expressed his trust in the offer to attract tourists and reignite their businesses. Tourism entrepreneurs say that the offers will attract and provide a chance to Buddhists to visit the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
According to Siddhartha Hotel Association, hotel businesses in Bhairahawa have also announced offers and schemes to attract tourists. They have announced special offers for tourists visiting the region during the Dashain and Tihar festivals.
“The government should also provide tourism entrepreneurs loans at low interest rates and discounts in electricity to help the hotel sector rise on its feet again,” Chandra Prakash Shrestha, chairman of Siddarth Association, said.
Tourism entrepreneurs in the Lumbini area faced heavy losses due to the shut down of the Nepal-India border. Although hundreds of Indian trucks and containers enter Nepal on a daily basis, the government has not allowed the flow of tourists from the border checkpoints. The tight security in the region has also become a problem for tourism entrepreneurs. They have also announced plans to provide transportation services for tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have conducted a PCR test.
Furthermore, tourism entrepreneurs have urged the authorities concerned not to create any obstacle for tourists visiting Lumbini.
