The New Year is a big deal for tourism. Vinayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), says it’s like a festival for tourism. Many local and international tourists get everyone in the tourism and hotel industry excited.
After the COVID-19 delay, travel has now begun again. For the New Year, all hotels in Pokhara, Bandipur, Chitwan, Kathmandu, Dhulikhel, Sukute, and Nagarkot are fully reserved. Due to the COVID-19 foreign tourists are rapidly filling up.
Shah claims that popular tourist spots like Dhulikhel, Nagarkot, Sauraha, Pokhara, and Kathmandu are crowded with visitors. These places are getting more exciting during the New Year thanks to both domestic and foreign tourists.
Nepal welcomed over a million tourists 2023, hitting the government’s goal. Most visitors were from India, followed by America, China, the UK, and Australia.
Tourist numbers were highest in January and March, but all year, people kept coming. By 2023, the target of 10 million tourists was achieved.
According to Nilhari Bastola, the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) chairman, the tourism industry gets excited around New Year’s. It’s a chance to grow and promote Nepal internationally.
But there are challenges. The air service isn’t direct, flights are expensive, and there’s insufficient information for foreign tourists. Plus, Nepal needs better infrastructure and promotion for its attractions.
Shah thinks the government should improve tourist-friendly infrastructure and roads, especially in places tourists want to visit. Connecting countries with direct flights, cheaper tickets, and using the internet for promotion could bring more tourists.
In simpler words, the New Year’s a big deal for tourism. Lots of tourists are coming, but Nepal needs better roads, more info for visitors, and cheaper flights to attract even more tourists.
