CHITWAN: Tourism entrepreneurs of Sauraha have drawn the attention of Chitwan National Park (CNP) on the impacts of stopping jungle safaris.

Submitting a memorandum to the CNP administration on Wednesday, the entrepreneurs have demanded the continuation of jungle safaris, one of the major attractions for the tourists.

Earlier, citing the flood and inundation risks prompted by the arrival of monsoon, the CNP authority had announced that the jungle safaris would be stopped in the national park effective from June 15.

Hoteliers and tourism-related organizations have expressed concern at the sudden closure of the safaris and argued that the decision will have an adverse impact on the COVID-19 struck tourism industry.

Chairman of Regional Hotel Association Deepak Bhattarai, Chairman of Regional Rewan Association Naresh Giri, Chairman of United Elephant Cooperative Society Limited Rishi Tiwari, Chairman of Nature Guide Association Rajendra Dhami and Chairman of Park Jeep Safari Gopal Shrestha have demanded an immediate reversal of the decision.

Likewise, Royal Jeep Safari Association President Trilokya Chitrakar, Bird Education Society President Ramesh Chaudhary, Nepal Wildlife Photography Association President Logik Krishna Sagar, and Small Tourism Entrepreneurs Group President Thakurman Shrestha have also demanded the immediate reversal of the CNP administration’s decision to shut down jungle safaris.