Tourism sector braces for setback as peak season collides with Gen-Z protests

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s peak tourist season, running through September to November, is set to begin alongside major festivals Dashain and Tihar.

But with the country still reeling from the Gen-Z protests, concerns are growing that the unrest could undercut the fragile recovery of the tourism industry.

After years of decline due to COVID-19, Nepal’s tourism had finally started to rebound. Now, travel entrepreneurs fear that the timing of the protests could once again put the sector at risk.

“This is the most important season when foreign visitors come to Nepal, yet uncertainty is at its peak,” said Krishna Prasad Acharya, chair of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Gandaki. “Tourists with bookings are hesitating to come, and unless we can quickly reassure the world that Nepal is safe, our tourism sector will suffer, and the country will bear the loss.”

Acharya added that TAAN and related organizations are currently working to ensure safe passage for tourists already in Nepal, especially for trekkers headed to popular routes. He warned, however, that without a rapid restoration of political stability, both international and domestic tourism could stagnate.

Domestic travel plans during the festive season have also been clouded by uncertainty. “Unless the political environment stabilizes, even Nepali travelers will hesitate to move around the country,” Acharya noted.

Officials at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) also foresee negative impacts. “It’s too early to quantify, but there’s no doubt the protests will affect visitor numbers this season,” said ACAP chief Dr. Rabin Kadariya.

Annapurna remains one of the world’s most popular trekking destinations. In the last fiscal year, it welcomed 278,113 foreign tourists, including 157,786 from South Asian countries and 120,327 from beyond the region. While arrivals dip during the monsoon and winter, the autumn and spring months usually draw hundreds of thousands of trekkers and domestic tourists.

According to ACAP officials, road-based tourists, many of them Indian pilgrims heading for Muktinath, and international trekkers to Annapurna Base Camp, Tilicho Lake, Thorong La, Upper Mustang, Ghorepani, and Poon Hill could be directly affected if unrest lingers.

Tourism entrepreneurs stress that Nepal must quickly project an image of safety and stability. “The peak season is here. If we fail to act fast, the damage to tourism could be far-reaching,” Acharya warned.