KATHMANDU: Sauraha witnessed a notable decline in tourist arrivals during this year’s English New Year celebrations.
Traditionally bustling with visitors, the town’s hotels, which typically fill up days in advance, reported unusually low occupancy rates this year.
According to Suman Ghimire, former president of the Regional Hotel Association and a veteran in the tourism industry, more than 80 percent of hotel rooms remained vacant this New Year.
This marks the lowest turnout in the 14 years he has been in the profession.
Ghimire attributed the decline to multiple factors, including disruptions in the road network. Daytime highway closures discouraged tourists traveling from Kathmandu, while difficult road conditions deterred visitors from Pokhara and Butwal.
“The economic slowdown, road issues, and lack of new programs likely contributed to the lower turnout,” he added.
The situation was further exacerbated by the absence of major events on New Year’s Day, unlike previous years when festivals like the Elephant Festival drew significant crowds.
While domestic tourists visited Sauraha for sightseeing during the day, few opted to stay overnight in hotels.
Santosh Giri, General Manager of Hotel Jungle Crown, pointed to children’s school exams as another reason for the reduced family outings.
“Hotels hosting programs managed to attract some guests, but overall, many establishments reported fewer bookings,” he said.
The impact of the decline extended beyond hotels. Jungle safaris, a primary attraction for visitors, also saw fewer participants.
Dipendra Khatiwada, chairman of the United Elephant Operators Cooperative, confirmed a drop in tourist numbers for their popular elephant safaris.
Gunaraj Thapaliya, General Secretary of the Regional Hotel Association, echoed these concerns, citing the road network, economic slowdown, and academic schedules as key factors.
Sauraha, home to 160 hotels with a capacity to accommodate 6,500 tourists, saw only around 20 percent of rooms occupied this New Year.
Business owners expressed concerns about the continuing downturn, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure and innovative events to revive the region’s tourism.
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