MORANG: Hotel entrepreneurs in Morang district have witnessed a huge financial loss in the recent days due to frequent general strikes called by Madhes-centric parties.

According to Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Central Member Rajan Shrestha, the hoteliers in the district have already suffered loss amounting to Rs four billion so far.

The hotels and restaurants are being operated sans clients in the district for almost a month. Though there used to be a crowd of tourists in Biratnagar and other parts of the district in the previous days, tourism activities are almost zero due to a month-long strike and protests by the agitating parties.

Eastern Regional Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association Chair Suresh Bhattarai said that the business in the hotels is almost nil due to the absence of tourists. There are over 100 hotels in Biratnagar itself.

The hoteliers have urged the government to resolve the dispute through dialogue as the economy is at the receiving end.