POKHARA, April 14: With the arrival of the New Year, major tourist areas and surrounding destinations are currently crowded with domestic visitors. Entrepreneurs report that destinations from the hill regions to the Himalayas have seen sufficient footfall.
According to local business owners, almost all tourist spots in Pokhara and nearby areas are packed with domestic tourists. Homestays in rural areas are also experiencing heavy visitor traffic. While the current season typically attracts foreign tourists, the addition of Indian and domestic travelers has led to full occupancy in hotels across tourist hubs.
Entrepreneurs note that crowding is not limited to Pokhara city. Hotels along the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trekking route, as well as in the Himalayan districts of Manang and Mustang, are also seeing large numbers of visitors. Similarly, Ghorepani, Ghandruk, and hill destinations around Pokhara are receiving ample tourists. A recently implemented two-day public holiday, combined with New Year holidays, has made travel easier for domestic tourists. With schools also closed, family travelers have increased.
“Pokhara is seeing strong domestic tourist arrivals. Indian tourists have also come in good numbers this time,” says Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara. “Thanks to Indian visitors, tourist areas are crowded.”
Tourist destinations heavily crowded as New Year brings surge o...
Subedi added that while tensions in the Middle East have somewhat affected arrivals from third-country tourists, Indian and domestic travelers have kept the tourism sector active. Hotel occupancy in Pokhara has reached around 90 percent.
“This is trekking season. Some third-country tourists coming for trekking were affected by Middle East tensions, but with support from Indian and domestic tourists, all destinations are now crowded,” he said. “Long school holidays have encouraged families to travel. Nearby destinations are seeing strong family tourism.”
Tourists on trekking routes also report sufficient crowds. Umesh Regmi, a Pokhara-based tourist who reached the Annapurna Circuit in Manang, said there is a mix of third-country foreigners and domestic trekkers. “Third-country tourists are trekking on foot. Domestic tourists are going up to upper Manang by vehicle in good numbers,” Regmi said. “Even though trekking areas are crowded, there are no issues with food or accommodation. Good weather has also made travel easier.”
Dilip Gurung, a business operator at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC), confirmed that trekking route hotels have plenty of visitors. He said all destinations under the Annapurna Base Camp region are currently crowded with all types of visitors. “There’s no shortage of tourists right now. All trekking route hotels are full. The destinations are crowded with third-country foreigners as well as Indian and domestic tourists,” he said. “The sufficient arrival of tourists has kept businesses busy.”
According to Gurung, despite Middle East tensions, third-country tourists have still been arriving in Nepal this season. Arrivals from South Asian countries have also been encouraging, and domestic tourists have increased, leading to crowded areas.
Favorable weather and the absence of untoward incidents in trekking areas have also boosted tourist confidence. “There was no impact of snowfall. The weather has supported us this time, which is why tourists have arrived in sufficient numbers,” Gurung said. “For the past week, most destinations in the Annapurna region have been crowded.”
Bharat Raj Parajuli, a central member of the Hotel Association, also said Pokhara has sufficient tourists, with hotels currently filled by third-country, Indian, and domestic visitors. “There was good arrival of Indian tourists this time. They have supported businesses,” he said. “Accessibility to Pokhara has also improved, which has boosted arrivals.”
Parajuli noted that continuous public holidays are attracting domestic tourists to Pokhara. “Holidays have made it easier for tourists to travel,” he said. “However, expensive fuel and fear of shortages remain challenges. If fuel were easily available, even more tourists would travel now.”
School holidays have also made family travel easier, he added, and hotels and restaurants in Pokhara are not facing a shortage of tourists. “There is significant activity. Domestic tourists have contributed to this crowding. Travel to and from Pokhara has also become easier now,” he said.
