 |
Kathmandu Friday October 12, 2001 Ashwin 26, 2058.
|
Decline in tourist arrival hits Pokhara
Post Report
POKHARA, Oct 11 - The unprecedented September 11 terrorist strikes in the
United States has shaken up the global tourism business, and the tourist town of Pokhara
in Nepal is no exception.
Pokhara so far has faced cancellations of the initial bookings by over 70 per
cent. And tourism entrepreneurs expect more cancellations in days to come with the
American strikes on Afghanistan currently underway.
Related entrepreneurs say that most American and British clients have
cancelled their bookings citing insecure and unstable South Asia in the light of the
allied attacks on the Taliban regime.
The 15 billion hoteling industry in Pokhara, and over 70 per cent that
remains yet to be paid to financial institutions, now lies at risk.
Hoteliers point that the inflow of tourists used to pick up from September
each years - but this year has been remarkably different in the sense that the number of
tourists in the Pokhara is very nominal, even in October, the peak tourist season in
Pokhara.
The local tourism industry that plunged into recession after the Royal
massacre of June 1 had received an encouraging 80 per cent hotel booking thereafter
shedding a ray of hope for a quick revival. However, the high hopes were short lived -
thanks to the deadly terrorist attacks in the US.
One of the most victimised sectors of the local tourism industry in Pokhara
is trekking service. Altogether there are more than 23 trekking companies in the local
market. According a survey, around 70 per cent of the tourists visiting Pokhara go for
short and long trekking and the average expenditure per day per person is US $ 25.
Sunrise Trekking, one of the local trekking companies, has received no
trekking group so far this season, which in the past years used to receive such orders
almost daily. Biru Banjam, owner of the company, expresses pessimism saying, "The
business this year is almost nil."
Local tourism entrepreneurs say that the rate of cancellation of the
previously received orders are on the rise each day. Jagdish Gurung of Adventure Quest
Trekking says that his company has received more than 7 cancellation after the terror
strikes in America.
"Most of the cancellation are coming from American and European tourists
citing that it has become dangerous to travel South Asia due to the ongoing war in
Afghatisthan," he says.
The slackness in the overall tourism business, especially trekking, has
equally affected the employment opportunities of the local people living trekking
en-route.
According to an estimate, more than 30 thousand people benefit directly or
indirectly from the trekking business. Ghandruk, a popular village en-route to Annnapurna
base camp, has been severely affected by the slump.
"Such serious slump, particularly during the onset of the Dashain
festival has become a matter of concern to us," says Rukmini Gurung, a local
hotelier.
Other Story
|
