Kolkata: Tourism to Nepal is likely to take a major hit with uncertainty prevailing ahead of the festive season, including Durga Puja and Diwali, as the Himalayan country faces political unrest.
Around 51 people have died and over 1700 have been injured in related violence.
“The incidents (caused by political or social restlessness) happening in Nepal are called physical factors in tourism, which become the first barrier to promote tourism. It takes a long time for the impact to get reduced. Both foreigners and Indians travelling to Nepal will be highly impacted if the situation continues like this. It is a difficult time for us because it is the beginning of the inbound season to Nepal. If the situation continues, it will be difficult for the tourism sector,” Debjit Dutta, chairman, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)-West Bengal chapter, told ET.
During the festive season, around 15-20,000 people go to Nepal from West Bengal alone, sources said. Tour operators now fear that many tourists may cancel their trips to Nepal during the upcoming Durga Puja vacation.
“Tourism had got hit when the Pahalgam terror attack happened in Kashmir and people still have this in their mind. Now, with Nepal, tourism will be affected ahead of the festive season,” Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) national committee member Anil Punjabi said.
“No one will risk their lives for a vacation,” Dutta added.
“Tourism in Nepal was recovering in recent days after great difficulty. Many people were travelling to Kailash Mansarovar from here but due to the present tensions, there will be major setbacks,” said Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) eastern region chairman Anjani Dhanuka.
Tour operators said demand for Nepal this year was showing an uptick indeed due to a couple of more reasons.
First was a proposed direct flight by Nepal-based Buddha Air from Kolkata to Nepal capital Kathmandu starting September. However, the DGCA has not approved the flight till now, said Punjabi. Air India too had planned a direct flight, according to Dutta.
Second was the Pahalgam incident which was making people look at Nepal.
Though Nepal is a close international destination, no direct flights are available from Bengal. Travellers have to choose between flying via Delhi, which is not cost-effective, or take the route through a land port in Bihar’s Raxaul, which is also not very viable, Dutta said. The preferred choice is via Delhi.
“It is a big loss to us and the travellers. The travellers have booked tickets, which are not cheap, as the travel is through Delhi, and paid advance for the hotels,” Punjabi said. With this problem in Nepal, there will be apprehensions and panic cancellations, according to him.
Fearing major losses and cancellation of bookings to Nepal, tour operators from West Bengal and national travel associations are scouting for alternative destinations for tourists.
However, “to give tourists substitute sectors with good rates now in other sectors is difficult as in all other places, the prices have gone up,” Punjabi said.
Those tourists already in Nepal are facing problems. “Some people are stranded there and are facing great difficulties to return. They are being advised to return via Gorakhpur instead of Kathmandu. There is vandalism at the airport, mobile connectivity has been cut off and there is neither safety nor any facilities for the tourists,” Dhanuka said.
Tour operators, on their part, are waiting for the situation to de-escalate and turn for the better. “We have to wait and watch,” Punjabi added.
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Around 51 people have died and over 1700 have been injured in related violence.
“The incidents (caused by political or social restlessness) happening in Nepal are called physical factors in tourism, which become the first barrier to promote tourism. It takes a long time for the impact to get reduced. Both foreigners and Indians travelling to Nepal will be highly impacted if the situation continues like this. It is a difficult time for us because it is the beginning of the inbound season to Nepal. If the situation continues, it will be difficult for the tourism sector,” Debjit Dutta, chairman, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)-West Bengal chapter, told ET.
During the festive season, around 15-20,000 people go to Nepal from West Bengal alone, sources said. Tour operators now fear that many tourists may cancel their trips to Nepal during the upcoming Durga Puja vacation.
“Tourism had got hit when the Pahalgam terror attack happened in Kashmir and people still have this in their mind. Now, with Nepal, tourism will be affected ahead of the festive season,” Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) national committee member Anil Punjabi said.
“No one will risk their lives for a vacation,” Dutta added.
“Tourism in Nepal was recovering in recent days after great difficulty. Many people were travelling to Kailash Mansarovar from here but due to the present tensions, there will be major setbacks,” said Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) eastern region chairman Anjani Dhanuka.
Tour operators said demand for Nepal this year was showing an uptick indeed due to a couple of more reasons.
First was a proposed direct flight by Nepal-based Buddha Air from Kolkata to Nepal capital Kathmandu starting September. However, the DGCA has not approved the flight till now, said Punjabi. Air India too had planned a direct flight, according to Dutta.
Second was the Pahalgam incident which was making people look at Nepal.
Though Nepal is a close international destination, no direct flights are available from Bengal. Travellers have to choose between flying via Delhi, which is not cost-effective, or take the route through a land port in Bihar’s Raxaul, which is also not very viable, Dutta said. The preferred choice is via Delhi.
“It is a big loss to us and the travellers. The travellers have booked tickets, which are not cheap, as the travel is through Delhi, and paid advance for the hotels,” Punjabi said. With this problem in Nepal, there will be apprehensions and panic cancellations, according to him.
Fearing major losses and cancellation of bookings to Nepal, tour operators from West Bengal and national travel associations are scouting for alternative destinations for tourists.
However, “to give tourists substitute sectors with good rates now in other sectors is difficult as in all other places, the prices have gone up,” Punjabi said.
Those tourists already in Nepal are facing problems. “Some people are stranded there and are facing great difficulties to return. They are being advised to return via Gorakhpur instead of Kathmandu. There is vandalism at the airport, mobile connectivity has been cut off and there is neither safety nor any facilities for the tourists,” Dhanuka said.
Tour operators, on their part, are waiting for the situation to de-escalate and turn for the better. “We have to wait and watch,” Punjabi added.
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