Indian tourist arrivals up in Pokhara

Pokhara, May 31

The number of foreign tourists has increased in Pokhara of late.

Tourists from India, especially from cities in northern India, have been visiting Pokhara in recent days. Businessmen in Pokhara said guests from Gorakhaphur, Luckhnow, Kanpur, Varanasi among other cities of India visit Pokhara under the campaign ‘Lets Visit Pokhara’.

The campaign was organised by Western Regional Hotel Association, Pokhara, in association with Nepal Tourism Board from May 26 to 31 last year. “We are sure Indian tourists have increased due to the campaign,” said chairman Bharat Raj Parajuli of the association.

The campaign was started some four years ago and given continuity this year as well.

It is said that hoteliers and other entrepreneurs benefit with the arrival of Indian tourists in Pokhara.

A hotelier Rajendra Dhakal said Indian tourists visit Nepal in their own vehicles targeting Pokhara. “The beautiful sceneries along with the climate of Pokhara attract the tourists,” he claimed.

He said that most of the tourists, who visit Pokhara, also visit Muktinath.

Uadya Bhattarai, chief of Nepal Tourism Board, Pokhara, said the tourism sector was reviving slowly after the border blockade and earthquake. He expressed confidence that more tourists from India would undoubtedly visit Nepal, especially Pokhara.

Meanwhile, senior tourism entrepreneur and hotelier Bachhuram Tiwari said that almost all hotels were vacant though the number of tourists visiting Pokhara had increased.

Tiwari added that the tourists reached Pokhara with every needed material such as food, among others, and hoteliers could not benefit as expected.