KATHMANDU: The Fewa lake of Pokhara, often full of domestic and foreign tourists, has been deserted for almost a year.

Major tourist destinations of Pokhara such as Fewa Lake, Sarangkot, Patale Chhango, Gupteswar Cave, Bindhyavasini Temple, Talbarahi Temple, Mahendra Cave, Chamere (Bats) Cave, Dr. KI Singh Bridge, International Mountain Museum, among others are lying deserted in the absence of visitors.

It is difficult to find foreign tourists even though there is a slight revival of domestic tourists in the area including KI Singh Bridge and International Mountain Museum.

The main season of tourism has started, but due to the low number of visitors, the places which used to be crammed with people are lying neglected.

The coronavirus pandemic that brought every sector to a standstill has stalled tourist movement for almost a year.

The tourism business in Pokhara started drying up after the enforcement of lockdown meant to curb the pandemic.

It has been more than six months since the end of the lockdown, yet, the number of visitors has not increased remarkably. Pokhara’s tourism business is still suffering from the pandemic aftermath.

There is a slight increase in the domestic movements, but the hotels and restaurants are still hard-hit.

Borrowing and paying rent

Madhav Bhatt of Dhading has been doing business in Thamel for the past 22 years. The Nepali products ‘bags’ and ‘clothes’ are hung in his shop. His shop is full of goods but sans business.

If it weren’t for the coronavirus, he could be seen in hectic tasks of dealing with the global customers.

He said with a sigh that even in the main season, he has been praying someone would get in and make a start to his day.

Likewise, Suman Chhetri, another businessman of Thamel, says that he has not been able to raise even 35,000 rupees monthly rent. Suman, who sells handicrafts, said there had never been such a downturn in the business before.

“Even during the blockade and the earthquake, our trade did not stop,” he told Khabarhub, adding, “At that time, the arrival of tourists was not hindered. It has been stalled for a year now.”

He suggested the government facilitate the arrival of tourists.

He said that even though the shop has been open since July, he had to take a loan to pay the rent to the landlord.

Most of the traders in Thamel fare nothing better.

Despite the hardship they are going through, the entrepreneurs and businessmen are optimistic that they will fare something good one day.

Tourism promotion plan

As a measure to crackdown the pandemic influence on the insiders, the government made the provision of a week-long mandatory quarantine stay for the foreign visitors.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), a proposal to revoke the provision of mandatory quarantine has reached the Council of Ministers.

Maniraj Lamichhane, director of the NTB, informed that the provision related to week-long mandatory quarantine is in the process of being revoked.

Lamichhane expects better days after the removal of the mandatory quarantine provision.

According to the Board, Nepal is participating in various promotional events as a means to revive the tourism industry.

Lamichhane told Khabarhub that Nepal is participating in the ‘South Asia’s Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) to be held at Greater Noida in India from March 24 to 26.

According to him, under the leadership of NTB 25 companies including Nepal Airlines Corporation will participate in the program.

The board is also preparing to participate in other fairs and festivals in India and abroad.

Corona infection is on the rise again in India, which ranks first in the number of tourists visiting Nepal.

When asked how the increasing corona cases of India will impact Nepal, Lamichhane responded that there will be many precautionary measures enforced mandatorily to check the pandemic spread.

“Not only India, but also the tourists from any other countries too will be allowed here only if their PCR test report is negative, so there is no need to be afraid.”

NTB statistics show that 8,000 foreign tourists had entered Nepal in the first month of January 2021. Similarly, 9,146 tourists came here in February.

The Board sources say that around 90,000 to 100,000 tourists had entered the country this season before the lockdown last year.