Positive indication in Nepal’s tourism sector as tourist arrival rises

Published On: November 21, 2022 09:35 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel


POKHARA, Nov 21: The tourism sector which was badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic is returning back on track. As a proof of it, 88,582 tourists entered Nepal till November. In ten months of the year 2022, a total of 4,73,563 tourists have entered Nepal.

Before the pandemic hit the world, in the year 2019, 1.2 million tourists visited Nepal. The government has targeted to ‘recover’ the tourism sector of the country by 2023. Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said that the tourist season has arrived which will support the government’s goal.

The NTB expects the number of tourists to reach 600,000 by the end of 2022. Director of NTB, Mani Raj Lamichhane said that the board expects such a figure as two months of the tourism season are still left. He said that the progress in the arrival of tourists in the month of October is 72 percent as compared to 2019. In October 2019, altogether 1,23,267 tourists visited Nepal.

This month of November is also the peak season for tourism in Nepal. Arrival is expected to be high this month as well. “Although the arrivals might decrease next month (December), the number of total tourists is expected to reach 600,000 by the end of the year,” he said, adding, “The government has expected the figure to be 500,000 but the board expects a higher figure of 650,000. Initially, the board had expected 600,000 tourists but the arrivals kept on increasing. If there are no obstacles in the months of November and December, the board's target will be met by a great margin.”

According to Director Lamichhane, this year’s tourism recovery as of before COVID-19 will be 50-55 percent. In 2019, as many as 1,197,191 tourists entered the country. Out of them, those who arrived through airways were 980,000, the remaining entered through roadways. According to him, global tourism will improve by 60-65 percent by the end of 2022. “The target is set to be met in Nepal. Tourism in Nepal experiences faster growth as compared to other countries,” he said.

The government and businessmen expected the tourism sector that was badly affected by coronavirus to recover in three years. He said that the expectation is most likely to be met. It is estimated that global tourism will return to its original state only after four years. He said, “If there are no obstacles in the present arrival of tourists, the tourism industry will see greater progress in the upcoming days.” In 2019, as many as 11,97,191 tourists visited Nepal. After COVID-19, the figure dropped to 230,085 in 2021 and 150,962 in 2022.

The board's statistics show that the arrival of tourists is the highest of the year in the month of October. As many as 88,582 tourists visited Nepal in the month of October alone. Similarly, according to the statistics of the board, 16,975 tourists visited Nepal in January, 19,766 in February, 42,006 in March, 61,589 in April, 53,608 in May, 46,957 in June, 44,462 in July, 41,304 in August and 41,304 in September.

“Tourists have arrived in Nepal, it is shown by the statistics of the board as well. It is greater than in previous years, it is better to have fewer arrivals than none,” said President of Hotel Association of Pokhara Laxman Subedi, “But the tourism entrepreneurs have not got relief as expected.”

According to the entrepreneurs, they are at their own fault for the failure of Pokhara to excel in the tourism sector and earn profit from it. Pokhara has not been able to expand activities that could expand the stay of tourists in Pokhara due to which Pokhara has become a ‘transit city’ for tourists. “There are plenty of tourists in areas linked with Pokhara by roadways, but less tourists in Pokhara itself,” he said, “Pokhara has not been able to increase the duration of stay in Pokhara from more than a night.”

He said that due to the short stay in Pokhara, entrepreneurs have not been able to experience the arrival of tourists. “Pokhara is seen as weak, but there are many tourists outside Pokhara. There are domestic tourists as well,” he said, “Pokhara has become a shelter during travels. The duration of stay in Pokhara has declined and it has badly affected the tourism sector.”

 


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