POKHARA, Dec 30: Pokhara is witnessing a strong surge in tourist arrivals, with nearly 90 percent of hotel rooms already booked for the year end, hoteliers said, as the city’s annual Street Festival draws domestic, Indian and third-country visitors despite the traditional off-season.
Hoteliers expect hotels of all categories to remain largely occupied until the New Year, with the positive impact likely to continue for about a week. “Almost all hotels in Pokhara will have guests over the next few days. The situation is very encouraging,” said Lakeside-based hotelier Naresh Bhattarai, who operates Mount Kailash Resort.
Bhattarai said the number of Indian and domestic tourists has increased significantly compared to recent years. Indian arrivals, which had weakened following the Gen-Z movement, have rebounded strongly this season. He added that tourist inflow has been healthy since Christmas, with visitors from third countries also arriving in better-than-expected numbers.
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Improved road access and infrastructure have played a key role in the rise in arrivals, Bhattarai said. Travel disruptions caused by fears of floods and landslides during Dashain had affected tourism earlier, but improved highway conditions have encouraged both domestic and Indian tourists to travel again.
He also noted that the expansion of hotels and homestays into surrounding hill areas has helped spread tourism beyond Lakeside. “Visitors are now staying in nearby hill destinations as well. Improved access has ensured that tourism benefits are shared more widely,” he said, adding that while larger hotels are already full, accommodation remains available across Pokhara and its outskirts.
Hotel Association Pokhara President Laxman Subedi echoed the optimism, saying the city will not face a shortage of visitors over the coming week. “In previous years, hotels used to be full only for the last two nights of December. This year, occupancy has remained high throughout the week,” he said, noting that arrivals are expected to slow only after the first few days of January.
According to Subedi, major hotels are operating at around 90 percent occupancy, while small and mid-sized hotels have reached about 75 percent. He attributed the increase mainly to strong domestic and Indian tourist inflows, with larger hotels benefiting from advance bookings and smaller establishments catering largely to regional visitors.
Gandaki Province Tourism Board chief Maniraj Lamichhane also described the current tourist movement as better than expected. “The inflow of visitors has added vibrancy to the city,” he said, adding that surrounding areas are also benefiting from the increased activity, contributing positively to the province’s overall tourism sector.
