CHITWAN, April 13: Tourist arrivals in Sauraha have significantly increased ahead of the Nepali New Year, with hotels across the area nearing full capacity. Business owners expect all hotel rooms to be fully occupied by evening.
According to Om Prakash Pandey, President of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha, the number of both domestic and foreign tourists has been rising despite disruptions caused by curfews and protests in Birgunj. While the area has seen fewer visitors since January, the New Year celebrations have drawn large crowds.
Vice President of the association, Gunaraj Thapaliya, said several hotels have already been fully booked since Friday, although the overall number of tourists remains slightly lower compared to previous years. He added that the weekend timing has contributed to the surge.
Hotels filling up in Sauraha on New Year eve
Likewise, Former president Suman Ghimire attributed the rise in tourist numbers to school holidays and the weekend. He mentioned that a cultural event is being organized in the evening to attract more Nepali tourists.
Prakash Neupane, General Manager of Siddhartha Vilasa Banabas Hotel, said all 34 rooms have been fully booked from Friday through Tuesday, with over half the guests being foreign nationals, mainly from Poland, China, and India.
Similarly, Santosh Giri, General Manager of Jungle Crown Hotel, stated that tourist numbers have been steady for the past two months and all rooms have been occupied since Saturday.
Nabin Nepal, General Secretary of the Restaurant and Bar Association (REBAN) Sauraha, said a special New Year program featuring renowned artists is being held tonight to draw more visitors. The event is primarily aimed at domestic tourists, many of whom are expected to enjoy the festivities late into the evening.
Visitors in Sauraha are also enjoying jungle safaris in Chitwan National Park and the surrounding community forests through elephant rides, jeep tours, walking treks, and boat rides. The area is internationally known for its wildlife tourism.
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