Tourism booms across Nepal as New Year 2082 sparks travel surge

KATHMANDU: With the arrival of the new year 2082, the tourism sector in Nepal is experiencing a surge in tourist activity, bringing renewed enthusiasm.

The onset of the spring season, coupled with school holidays, has prompted parents to take their children on domestic tours, while government employees, with their annual leave, are also heading to various tourist destinations.

As a result, religious sites from the eastern Pathibhara to the western Shaileshwori are witnessing increased activity from religious tourists.

This growth in tourism is not only boosting the tourism sector but is also contributing to the country’s economy. Major tourist destinations within the country are seeing a significant influx of domestic tourists.

According to Vinayak Shah, president of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), tourist activity has notably increased at most tourist destinations on the eve of the new year.

“Hotels across the country have reached an occupancy rate of at least 35%, and in some places, it’s almost 100%. After a period of slow business, new hope has been sparked. Events like the ‘New Year Eve’ programs in places like Thamel, Pokhara, Sauraha, Lumbini, and Bhaktapur have further energized tourism,” Shah said.

Major tourist spots such as Pāthibhara, Ilam, Tin Jure, Dharan, Bhedetar, Basantpur, Makalu Base Camp, Khumbu region, Everest Base Camp, Lukla, Barahkshetra, Budhasubba, Halesi, Dantakali, Khechanakwal, Chhinmasta, Janakpur, and Bharat Tal have also witnessed a notable influx of tourists.

Similarly, regions like Kalinchok, Charikot, Shailung, Jiri, Panchpokhari, Helambu, Panauti, Palanchok Bhagwati, Chitwan National Park, Sauraha, Hetauda, Madan Bhandari Park, Palung, Daman, Langtang, Gosainkunda, Nuwakot Durbar, Bandipur, Pokhara, Gorakhadham, Kapilvastu, Tilaurakot, Ramgram, Butwal Palla, and Lumbini have all become major tourist attractions.

With the ideal weather for trekking and mountaineering, foreign tourists are flocking to the Himalayan regions for adventurous tourism.

Many climbers, both domestic and international, have reached the base camps of Everest and other mountains to attempt ascents.

Kathmandu Valley, as well as most other major tourist destinations across the country, are bustling with tourists.

Places like Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Lakuri Bhanjyang, Godawari, Chandragiri, Kulekhani, Chitlang, Shivpuri, Kakani, and Jarsing Pauwa in the valley are crowded with domestic tourists.

The areas of South Kalikali, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Basantpur, Patan, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square are teeming with visitors. According to Naveen Gurung, manager of Nagarkot Almost Hotel, his hotel is running at full capacity, and other hotels in the region are also experiencing high occupancy.

Business Owners Excited

The new year has brought vitality to the tourism capital, Pokhara. However, some tourists have canceled their bookings due to ongoing protests.

Tara Pahari, chair of the Pokhara Tourism Development Council, shared that there is always a rise in tourist numbers in Pokhara for three to four days around the new year. “Especially Indian and Chinese tourists have been more visible,” she mentioned.

According to Pahari, surrounding areas of Pokhara are also crowded with tourists. Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, has seen a rise in tourism as well. In Pokhara, the new year festivities and the annual festivals have played a significant role in boosting tourism. Vishwaraj Poudel, president of the Restaurant and Bar Association (Reban) in Pokhara, said that hotel occupancy in the city is currently over 70%.

In Bhairahawa, the Siddhartha Hotel Association’s president, C.P. Shrestha, mentioned that hotel occupancy in the area has exceeded 35%, and this surge in tourism is attributed to the new year. “Hotels in Bhairahawa are especially packed with Indian tourists, and there is a significant rise in domestic tourists as well,” Shrestha added. According to reports, Bhairahawa has over 150 hotels, including five-star accommodations catering to tourists.

In the tourist town of Sauraha, the number of tourists has also risen significantly due to the new year. Dhruv Giri, president of Reban Sauraha, noted that both domestic and foreign tourists have flocked to Sauraha. He stated that various fairs and festivals around the new year have been instrumental in promoting tourism.

According to Ganga Giri, the past president of the Regional Hotel Association Nepal Chitwan, hotels in Chitwan are fully booked. “Hotel occupancy has reached 100%, and there are no rooms available for three days,” Giri said.

Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), also expressed optimism about the tourism sector, stating that the new year has given rise to hope for the tourism business. “Both domestic and foreign tourists are coming in significant numbers, which is boosting the confidence of tourism entrepreneurs,” he said.

Tourism Board’s Active Role

The tourism sector is not only thriving but also becoming a focal point for both domestic and international tourism, thanks to aggressive marketing initiatives by the Nepal Tourism Board. According to Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Board, they have been actively promoting international tourism. “In the past five months, we have held 17 B2B events abroad,” Joshi shared.

On the domestic front, events such as the Nepal-India-China Expo and the East Tourism Mart have been successfully concluded. Preparations are underway for the Sudurpashchim Mart, and an International Buddhist Travel Mart has also been announced. The board is engaging foreign influencers and media to promote tourism by inviting them to visit Nepal’s tourist destinations.

According to statistics from the board, 1.147 million tourists visited Nepal in 2023, compared to 1.015 million in 2022. In contrast, in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number dropped by 81%, with only 230,085 tourists visiting. The number rose to 150,962 in 2021. If the country continues to strengthen its air and road infrastructure, it can achieve even higher tourism numbers in the future.

Tribhuvan International Airport is now operating at full capacity, but the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini and Pokhara International Airport have yet to operate at their full potential, although they are handling international flights.

Shah of HAN believes that if the country’s road and air connectivity improves, the tourism sector can make significant progress. Kumar Mani Thapaliya, president of the Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), believes the new year has added a positive boost to the tourism sector. “Although 2021 was a challenging year due to expensive airfare, the outlook remains hopeful, and a policy shift is essential to achieve better results,” Thapaliya said.

The Nepal Tourism Board aims to attract more tourists by organizing special events like “Visit Year” programs at major tourist destinations. Pokhara, in particular, is targeting to bring in 2 million tourists by promoting the year 2025 as the “Visit Year.” Additionally, the Fewa Festival is ongoing, and the “Nagarkot Visit Year 2082” event will kick off on the first day of Baishakh (April 14, 2025), with the inauguration by President Ram Chandra Poudel. The aim is to promote the natural beauty, culture, and history of the Nagarkot region.

Naveen Gurung, chairman of the Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Development Committee, expressed confidence that this event will bring more tourists, both domestic and international, and further enhance the region’s tourism.