Kathmandu. The direct impact of the escalating military tension in the Middle East has been seen in Nepal’s tourism sector. Many tourists coming to Nepal have canceled their trips due to the expensive and unsafe air travel.

Entrepreneurs say that tourists coming to Sauraha area from countries other than India, China and Australia have cancelled their trips. According to entrepreneurs, 80 percent of the hotels in Sauraha used to be occupied. According to them, only 20 percent of the tourists have visited this year. The tourism sector of Sauraha, which was affected for 15 days due to the elections, has been affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Om Prakash Pandey, president of the Regional Hotel Association Chitwan, said February, March and April are the prime tourist seasons of Sauraha. In the past years, 80 percent of the hotel rooms were occupied, but this year only 20 percent of the rooms are occupied, he said. “Tourists from countries other than conflict zones have also cancelled their bookings,” he said. During this time, wildlife can be easily seen in Chitwan National Park as it is visible far and wide. “The big agencies have cancelled most of the bookings,” he said.

Vice-president of the association, Gunaraj Thapaliya, said that the Nepalis have not been encouraged to visit and enjoy due to high inflation and worry about their friends in those countries. He said that tourists from other countries have also not arrived despite the exorbitant airfare.

Tourism entrepreneur Suman Ghimire said that 50 percent of the bookings made in his hotel have been canceled, adding that the cancellation of October and November was not canceled. Stating that tourists from European, Britain, America, Germany and other countries had to cease their travel due to conflict, he said the tourism business as a whole has been affected this year due to conflict. “There’s still one month left,” he said. This season is not going to be good. He expressed concern that the tourism sector would be directly affected wherever it occurred.

Prakash Neupane, general manager of Banbas Resort, said that tourists have cancelled their bookings due to the tension in the Middle East. Noting that a large number of tourists arrive this season from various countries including Europe, he said they have been affected this year due to conflict. According to Neupane, the tourism sector has been directly affected due to the halt of transit flights to the Middle East countries. He said, “The war had a bad impact on Nepal’s hospitality sector. ’

Tourism entrepreneur Santosh Giri said that the tourism sector has been directly affected due to the conflict in the main season. He said, “Who will come to visit and enjoy after the conflict? ’

There are 148 hotels in Sauraha. It has the capacity to accommodate 7,200 tourists. A total of 6,400 people have been directly employed in this sector. More than 12,000 people are indirectly employed. Tourists flock to Chitwan National Park and its community forests to see rare wildlife and birds including one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, Gharial crocodile and other rare wildlife. Apart from this, Tharu culture in Sauraha is also of interest to tourists. Apart from this, various organizations of Nepal also come to Sauraha to organize programs while Indians also come to Sauraha for marriages. The conflict has affected the tourism sector along with other sectors.