CHITWAN: Tourism activity in Sauraha is showing signs of recovery, bringing a wave of optimism to local businesses.
Gunaraj Thapaliya, operator of Unique Wild Resort, expressed his happiness as 30 international tourists are expected to arrive at the resort today.
In previous years, Sauraha would be bustling with tourists during this season. However, this year’s flow has started only after the Dashain festival, offering a much-needed boost to hotel operators.
The tourism sector had faced a setback earlier due to political instability and landslides in various parts of the country, which led to a wave of booking cancellations during what is typically a peak season. Thapaliya, a hotelier, said the situation has improved since Tuesday.
“There were only about five percent of the usual tourist numbers during Dashain, but that has been steadily increasing,” he said. According to him, current tourist arrivals have reached approximately 30 percent of the usual level, compared to around 80 percent during this period last year.
Om Pandey, operator of Hotel Landmark, confirmed that tourists are now starting to return to local hotels. He noted that foreign tourists who had arrived in Nepal before the onset of the Gen-Z protests began visiting Sauraha once road conditions improved.
“While domestic tourist numbers remain low, the number of international visitors is on the rise,” he said. “Although advance bookings are still limited, walk-in tourists are increasing, giving us renewed hope.”
Suman Ghimire, operator of Jungle Safari Lodge, also observed a gradual rise in tourist numbers. He anticipates that domestic tourist arrivals will increase during the Tihar festival.
“We expect both domestic and foreign tourist numbers to grow steadily,” he said, adding that the reopening of jungle safaris inside Chitwan National Park has contributed to the uptick.
He also mentioned that improved road conditions are making travel to Chitwan easier for visitors, especially during the holiday season.
Ramesh Silwal, operator of Hotel Vista, reported receiving 14 inquiries for Sauraha just today. He believes that awareness about Sauraha is spreading through various channels and is optimistic about the upward trend in arrivals.
Dipendra Khatiwada, another tourism entrepreneur from Sauraha, noted increased activity in local restaurants. He also reported a gradual rise in demand for elephant safaris. “While it was often difficult for elephant riders to operate during Dashain in previous years due to high demand, this year the area was quiet during the festival,” he said.
Sauraha remains a popular destination for visitors to Chitwan National Park, which is internationally renowned for its safaris. Tourists come here to explore both the park and nearby community forests, drawn by the chance to see rare wildlife such as one-horned rhinoceroses and leopards.
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