Ramesh Silwal, the owner of Hotel Vista in Sauraha, is currently busy with the final stages of painting and cleaning in preparation for the upcoming tourist season. He plans to complete all the maintenance work within the next couple of days and welcome guests soon after.
“We aim to finish the interior painting by this evening and start applying putty on the tiles right after,” Silwal shared. “In a day or two, we’ll be ready to welcome tourists.” The monsoon season typically sees a significant drop in tourist numbers, and in previous years, hotel owners in Sauraha would give their staff time off during this period.
However, Silwal noted that these days, even with fewer tourists, the staff remain on-site. Suman Ghimire, owner of Jungle Safari Lodge, is also currently focused on cleaning, painting, and repairs. “We are working hard to make the hotel look its best,” he said.
With the arrival of October, Ghimire anticipates an increase in tourist footfall. As the former president of the Regional Hotel Association, he explained that as the monsoon subsides and the roads improve, tourists are expected to return starting from the first week of October. He added that all the necessary repair and maintenance work will be completed within the month. “In a few days, our garden will be in full bloom, ready to welcome our guests,” Ghimire remarked, expressing confidence in attracting tourists.
Hotel Seven Limited has already started seeing an increase in tourist arrivals over the past two weeks. Managing Director Santosh Pathak shared, “We are experiencing a good flow of tourists.” During the off-season, they focused on maintenance, including painting and repairs. Since taking over the hotel’s management, Pathak and his team have initiated upgrades with plans to add 98 rooms and build two halls with a combined capacity of 1,000 guests, aiming to turn it into a five-star establishment.
According to Deependra Khatri, former president of the Restaurant and Bar Association, 80 restaurants in Sauraha have completed their renovation and are ready to welcome tourists. Khatri, who also chairs the United Elephant Cooperative, managing 30 elephants for safaris, mentioned that the entire tourism sector in Sauraha is eagerly awaiting the new season.
Gunaraj Thapaliya, General Secretary of the Regional Hotel Association, pointed out that poor road conditions caused by the monsoon significantly reduced tourist numbers this year. However, he expressed optimism that the upcoming season would see a surge in visitors, and local businesses are preparing accordingly. Sauraha, home to over 150 hotels with a combined capacity of 6,500 guests, is the gateway to the globally renowned Chitwan National Park, famous for its jungle safaris.
“We expect both domestic and international tourist numbers to rise in the coming season,” Thapaliya concluded, reflecting the region’s readiness for a busy tourist influx.
