Nepal helpless to grapple with adverse impact of Coronavirus on tourism

Kathmandu: Nepal’s communist government remains helpless in grappling with the current adverse impact of epidemic Coronavirus upon the tourism industry of Nepal in the aftermath of the break out of this lethal virus in Hubei province of China that caused a sudden collapse in the arrival of Chinese and other tourists in Nepal.

Nepal’s famous tourist hub such as Chitwan and Pokhara are confronting the brunt of tourism slump as guests including Chinese tourists continue to cancel their earlier booking of hotels.

Tourism entrepreneurs claim that owing to the pandemic fear about Cornonavirus that broke out in China, other guests from other countries are also not willing to visit Nepal, although Nepal is safe enough for the guests where only one Coronavirus infected case was detected recently, that person has also recuperated from the infection of coronavirus.

Chitwan hoteliers say that they had never imagined that only 15% of occupancy during the month of February will be a reality for them. They also claim that they will have to face further dire consequences if any alternative market strategies are not taken into account immediately.

The fear of Coronavirus has been more in the Indian tourists whose arrival in Nepal has almost plummeted. Nepal’s trekking agencies, tour guides, restaurants, and the transport sector are all reeling under the pain of global health crisis.