Himalaya Airlines is launching a direct flight from Pokhara to Lhasa starting on Chaitra 18, aiming to boost the arrival of foreign tourists in Pokhara. Tourism businesses believe this will help promote tourism in the region, particularly by attracting Chinese tourists to Nepal.
Despite the opening of the international airport in Pokhara two years ago, regular international flights had not been established until now. The new flight is expected to strengthen tourism links between Nepal and China, with hopes of increasing the number of Chinese visitors to Nepal.
Local business leaders, including hotel and restaurant associations, view this development as a significant opportunity to establish Pokhara as an international tourism hub. The Nepal Tourism Board also considers the new route a major achievement for promoting Pokhara and enhancing Nepal-China tourism relations.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese tourists made up a large portion of visitors to Nepal, with around 169,000 arriving in 2019. Although the numbers dropped after the pandemic, they are gradually recovering, with approximately 100,000 Chinese tourists visiting in 2023.
The first flight from Pokhara to Lhasa will carry 127 passengers, including tourism professionals, and around 1,000 Chinese tourists are expected to visit Pokhara. Initially, there will be one flight per week, with the frequency increasing based on demand. Himalaya Airlines plans to expand to 10 tourist destinations in China, to bring in one million Chinese tourists to Nepal annually.
