Rup Narayan Dhakal

Pokhara, July 20:

Tourism entrepreneurs from Pokhara are busy travelling to foreign countries and repairing their offices due to lack of tourist arrivals during this off-season. September, October and November are known as main season months whereas March, April and May are regarded to comprise of secondary season and the remaining months are known as off-season in the realm of tourism industry in Nepal.

Right now hotel owners and travel agencies are waiting for the major season, chatting, mailing and telephoning tourists about various packages. Some tourism entrepreneurs are busy painting and repairing their offices. In the previous year, the tourism sector was hurt due to Nepal bandhs and strikes by different political parties. In this off-season, some entrepreneurs have celebrated Asar Mahotsav and Dai Mahotsav to lure tourists.

Mahesh Bahadur Bhandari, a hotel-owner has set off for America and Bodh Raj Bhandari has left for Germany to use their leisure time. Tika Ram Sapkota, former president of Western region Chapter, Pokhara said that Nepal bands have badly bruised the tourism sector. The major tourism area, the lakeside is quiet nowadays. Shopkeepers pass their time playing chesss, ludo and cards.

The condition of tourism in Pokhara is worsening day by day due to the present situation of the nation. Some hotel owners are failing to provide salary to workers.

“Some hotels in Pokhara have shut down and some are in the process to be shut down due to the decreasing number of tourist arrivals, said Biplav Poudel, secretary of Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Pokhara.

“Rafting has also been halted in Pokhara, so it is difficult for us to support our families,” said Dambar Bahadur Nepali, a rafting entrepreneur. There are 717 boats in Pokhara. Pokhara is on the main trekking route for Annapurna and Dhawalagiri. But very few tourists are taking permission to enter Annapurna area. 1,111 workers are associated with trekking and rafting profession in Pokhara, but only 216 workers are available for their duties at present.

According to statistics of HAN, about Rs 20 billion have been invested on tourism sector in Pokhara.

In 2004, 87,693 tourists visited Pokhara which is a rise by 6.19 per cent compared to last year’s tourist arrivals. There are 500 hotels, 39 travel agencies, 53 restaurants and 53 travel agencies in Pokhara.