The period from October to December is typically considered the peak tourism season in Nepal. However, this year, the country has experienced a noticeable decline in tourism, with tourists staying for shorter periods compared to previous years.
Tourism industry professionals have reported a slowdown, with the sector starting to decelerate by the last week of November. Krishna Acharya, President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Gandaki Chapter, noted that the tourist season seemed to be ending earlier than usual.
“This year, the tourism season was unusually brief. Although tourists arrived, their stays were shorter. Even trekking routes were more condensed. In previous years, tourist numbers remained consistent for a longer period, but this year, the slowdown began in the third week of November,” Acharya explained.
He further emphasized that what used to be a three-month peak season has now lasted only about a month, with the rest of the time relatively quiet. He attributed this decline to issues with road and air travel.
“The delays in the construction of the Muglin-Pokhara road section have caused significant inconvenience for tourists. The journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara now takes 12 to 13 hours, which discourages visitors. Bad weather and high airfare have only added to the difficulties,” he added. As a result, not only have new tourist arrivals decreased, but even the plans of returning visitors have been disrupted. Acharya highlighted that tourists have shortened their stays, which has directly affected the tourism industry.
Acharya voiced concerns that these travel challenges might continue to affect the upcoming season. “The hassle of travel may deter foreign tourists from planning trips to Nepal. Skyrocketing airfare and unfinished road construction causing long delays are pushing potential tourists to consider other destinations,” he explained.
Laxman Subedi, President of the Pokhara Hotel Association, reported that hotel occupancy is currently at only about 40%. While the occupancy rate had increased during the peak season, it has since dropped significantly.
“We had a peak season for just about a month, from mid-October to mid-November, with occupancy reaching around 70%. However, it has sharply declined since then. The season could not extend beyond that one month,” Subedi said. He added that Pokhara is currently hosting mainly European, Indian, and domestic tourists, with very few Chinese visitors. “Some school groups have visited, but unlike previous years, there are far fewer foreign tourists during the peak season. Several factors have contributed to this decline,” he concluded.
