Bhairahawa entrepreneurs urge immediate action to maximize airport capacity

KATHMANDU: Tourism entrepreneurs in Lumbini, who were initially elated with the commencement of international flights at Gautam Buddha International Airport, are now faced with concerns about the airport’s continued operation.

Since the airport construction began, local tourism businesses have made significant investments, but now they are worried about whether the airport will operate fully.

Nearly two and a half years after the completion of the airport, only Nepal Airlines currently operates a daily flight, while five other airlines previously providing services to various international destinations have suspended their flights.

The airport’s sustainability is in question due to the lack of necessary infrastructure for full-scale operations.

Chandraprakash Shrestha, President of the Siddhartha Hotel Association Nepal, expressed concern about the incomplete infrastructure and its impact on the airport’s operations. “Given the current situation, business owners and citizens are not confident that the international airport will operate regularly,” he said.

Shrestha stressed the need for critical infrastructure such as labor permits, visa centers, foreign employment agencies, training centers, and health service providers to be established in Bhairahawa for the airport’s successful operation. “If these infrastructures are in place, only then will airlines have sufficient passenger flow,” he noted, adding that initial promotional efforts could help businesses get started in the area.

The construction of the Gautam Buddha International Airport was intended to promote Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, as a major tourist destination.

After seven years of construction, the airport was inaugurated on May 16, 2022. With the establishment of the airport, many local businesses increased their investments, expecting growth in the tourism sector.

Previously, during the expansion of Tribhuvan International Airport’s taxiway in Kathmandu, five international airlines began operating from Bhairahawa, which was a significant boost. However, Qatar Airways recently suspended its flights to Bhairahawa.

Pawan Haluwai, a tourism entrepreneur who took the risk of opening a five-star hotel in Lumbini after the airport’s construction began, shared his concerns.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of international flights to Bhairahawa had severely impacted his investment. “The pandemic shut down the hotel business for three years, and tourism was almost nonexistent,” he lamented. “The burden of increasing bank loans and the delay in the full operation of the airport has led to frustration among entrepreneurs.”

Local entrepreneurs have one clear demand: regular international flights must be maintained at the airport at all costs. This demand has been consistently raised in various forums, and businesses are collectively appealing to the government for action.

“Entrepreneurs have invested in building five-star hotels in Lumbini and expanded hotel capacities,” said Shrestha, who is also a central member of the Hotel Association of Nepal.

“They were hopeful that thousands of tourists would visit Lumbini, and that private businesses would thrive. However, after the airport’s inauguration, the failure to operate it fully has led to disappointment.”

Shrestha added that despite the private sector’s investments, they have not been able to realize the expected returns. “Around 40 billion Nepali rupees were spent on constructing the airport. Based on this, the private sector made significant investments,” he explained.

Despite the increase in tourist activity in Lumbini this year, local entrepreneurs remain discouraged as the airport’s full operation remains uncertain.

“Tourists typically visit from October to April, and there has been an increase in religious and meditation programs,” said Haluwai. “If the airport operates properly, tourism in this region will thrive.”