The popular tourist destination of Ghorepani in the Annapurna region has seen a significant decline in tourist arrivals this year due to landslide damage to access roads. Once a bustling area with over 30,000 foreign visitors annually, Ghorepani is now witnessing a sharp drop in tourism, leaving local businesses, especially hotels, in distress.
According to Meena Pun, Chairperson of the Ghorepani Hotel Management Sub-Committee, the main access road from Pokharebagar to Ghorepani, passing through Ghar, Khibang, Shikha, and Chitre, was severely damaged by a landslide in August. The section of the road near Ghoptakhar in Annapurna Ward 5 was washed away, and despite the onset of the tourist season, the road remains unrepaired. This disruption has significantly reduced the flow of tourists, causing concerns among hotel owners.
“In previous years, during the Dashain festival and holidays, domestic tourists would fill up the hotels, arriving by bus to enjoy their vacations,” Pun shared. “This year, only trekkers traveling from Kaski are arriving, leaving Ghorepani quiet, even in the peak tourist season.”
The landslide destroyed about 10 meters of the road, and currently, only motorcycles can pass through the damaged area, while larger vehicles are unable to access the route. The Pokharebagar–Chitre road, spanning 18 kilometers, was paved last year with an investment of NPR 300 million by the Local Infrastructure Development Office. However, the landslide has rendered the road unusable, cutting off the usual tourist traffic.
Ward Chairperson Ram Bahadur Khadka of Annapurna Rural Municipality Ward 6 explained that efforts have been made to repair the damaged road through coordination with the concerned project office. Additionally, an alternative road connecting Khibang, Kutuka, Peri Bharani, and Ghorepani has been temporarily repaired by the local municipality.
Khadka also mentioned that minor repairs have been carried out using local resources to allow the passage of light vehicles in areas like Luliya and Hallekhark, where the road had sunk. However, until full repairs are completed, the decline in tourist numbers is expected to continue.
The local hotel industry, which thrives on both domestic and international tourists, is feeling the impact of the halted access. Hoteliers and local businesses are urging authorities to expedite road repairs to revive the tourism sector in Ghorepani before the season slips away.
Source: RSS
