Kathmandu. The tourist areas here have become vibrant with the holiday for two days a week. Entrepreneurs have said that the number of tourists has increased in Sauraha during the holiday season as compared to the past.

Tourists flock to Chitwan National Park and buffer community forests to enjoy the tourism activities. Tourists also come to Sauraha for seminars and weddings. According to entrepreneurs, the number of tourists this year is encouraging as compared to the previous years.

Vice-president of the Regional Hotel Association Gunaraj Thapaliya said that Sauraha has become vibrant due to the increase in the number of domestic tourists on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “More than 40 per cent of the tourists are on holidays. Tourists from Indian, Chinese and third countries have come to Sauraha.

Although the number of tourists visiting Nepal is high on holidays, 70 percent of the tourists are on other days. On average, 50 percent of the rooms are occupied this year. According to him, last year it was around 40 percent.

Entrepreneurs said that the number of tourists will increase if the road to Chitwan is good. Although the route from Pokhara to Chitwan is good, the number of tourists coming to Chitwan from Kathmandu and Bhairahawa is not as expected.

Manager of Hotel Vista Sauraha, Ramesh Silwal said that the number of tourists will increase naturally with the holidays. He said it has been easier for tourists to come from different parts of the country during the holidays. According to him, the number of tourists has increased in his hotel as he has added swimming pool this year.

Dipendra Khatiwada, president of United Elephant Operation Cooperative, said that they have to wait for their turn to ride elephants during holidays. With the increase in the number of tourists during holidays, the number of people enjoying tourism activities has also increased. There are 25 elephants under the cooperative. These elephants roam the tourists in the morning and evening.

Khatiwada, who is also the former president of the Restaurant and Bar Association (REBAN), said that the restaurants are also full during the holidays. According to him, the number of tourists has increased in other periods as compared to the previous year as well.

There are 148 hotels in Sauraha. It has the capacity to accommodate 7,200 tourists. Entrepreneurs estimate that more than four billion rupees have been invested in these hotels. Directly, 6,400 people have got employment. More than 12,000 people are indirectly employed. With the onset of monsoon, the number of tourists coming here decreases.