Revive tourism in a way to relieve earthquake bruises

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Basudev Poudel (Pokhara) / April 24: Tourism entrepreneurs here have stressed the need to revive tourism in Lake City Pokhara in such a way to relieve pains and plights triggered by the 25 April 2016 earthquake that rattled the country.

It was said by the tourism entrepreneurs who are proactive in reviving tourism sector in Pokhara which remained adversely affected after the earthquake last year.

Now Pokhara has witnessed wide public debate and concerns on the measures and campaigns towards bringing back tourism devastated by the earthquake and trade blockade to its earlier stage.

The tourism entrepreneurs said there was very nominal inflow of foreign tourists to Pokhara since the earthquake. Though the domestic tourists had given a sigh of relief the sector endured a very tough time in the tourism city.

Hotel Association of Nepal, Western Region, Chairperson, Bharat Raj Parajuli said the tourism entrepreneurs here have come up with enthusiasm to bring back tourism to better condition by putting aside the last year’s earthquake triggered complications.

“The entrepreneurs have expected security and political stability from the state”, he said, adding that tourism entrepreneurs here are ready to provide effective services in any critical hour if there is guarantee of security and political stability.

It may be noted that around 500 well-equipped hotels are currently providing services in Pokhara.

Parajuli added that two five-star, 15 three-star and other well-equipped hotels had been providing services to around 700,000 domestic and foreign tourists in a year before the earthquake.

The entrepreneurs have so far invested over Rs 80 billion in Pokhara for tourism business, he said, adding the flow of investment is on the rise.

Similarly, Pokhara Tourism Council Chairperson Som Thapa said that now is the time to rise from the painstaking situation resulted in by last year’s destructive earthquake.

“Pokhara was witnessing renewed excitements with the advent of New Year”, he said, adding it has marked the arrival of tourists from European countries and India at the onset of the New Year.

Former Chairperson of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pokhara Chapter Ananda Raj Mulmi underlined the need of devising campaigns to revitalize tourism in Pokhara.

The promotional activities should be undertaken from local level, he said, calling for local stakeholders to form a separate body to take ahead the campaign.

Vice-chair of FNCCI, Pokhara Chapter said the under-construction of International Airport in Pokhara has also increased Pokhara’s tourism potentials and demanded the massive development of physical infrastructure before the construction of airport. RSS