Tourism activity in Sauraha, Chitwan, has increased in recent days as domestic and international visitors return during the Dashain holiday period. After months of disruption caused by floods, landslides and road blockages, the renewed flow of tourists has brought relief to hotels, restaurants and other tourism related businesses.
Favourable weather and public holidays have contributed to the increase in visitor numbers. Tourism entrepreneurs say that although domestic tourist arrivals were initially lower than expected during Dashain, the situation has improved in recent days, bringing fresh optimism to the local tourism sector.
Tourist Arrivals Rise During Dashain Holidays
Tourism businesses in Sauraha have become busier as more visitors arrive to enjoy the holiday season. Local entrepreneurs say the growing number of tourists has increased activity across hotels, restaurants and other services, helping businesses regain confidence after a difficult period.
Gokarna Giri, a tourism entrepreneur in Sauraha, said the recent increase in visitors has lifted the spirits of local business owners. He noted that tourists are increasingly exploring the area, visiting forests and enjoying local attractions, creating a more lively atmosphere throughout the destination.
Hotels Report Full Occupancy and More Bookings
The rise in tourist arrivals has also increased demand for accommodation. Lav Sapkota, manager of Batika Resort in Sauraha, said the resort had been fully occupied for the previous two to three days, with domestic tourists making up a large share of its guests during the festival period.
Sapkota said the increase in bookings has made room allocation and guest management busier than usual. The stronger demand offers encouragement to accommodation providers and other businesses that experienced difficulties during months of disrupted travel and reduced tourist activity.
Safaris and Cultural Experiences Attract Visitors
Sauraha offers several activities for visitors, including jeep safaris, elephant safaris, boat rides on the Rapti River and Tharu cultural performances. These experiences, combined with favourable weather, continue to make the destination an attractive base for tourists visiting Chitwan National Park and nearby community forests.
Tourism entrepreneur Rishi Tiwari said tourist arrivals after Dashain Tika had been better than during the same period last year. He attributed the improvement to the festival season and public holidays, adding that the increased flow of visitors had brought renewed enthusiasm to local tourism businesses.
Natural Disasters Delayed the Tourism Season
Suman Ghimire, former chair of the Hotel Association Nepal, Chitwan, said tourist arrivals had increased at destinations across the area during the Dashain holidays. He noted that both domestic and foreign visitors were contributing to the recent improvement, providing encouragement to businesses affected by earlier disruptions.
Ghimire said natural disasters, including flooding in the Bhotekoshi area, along with landslides and difficult road conditions, had delayed the start of the main tourism season by approximately one month. Although these disruptions affected travel plans and bookings, the recent rise in visitors has offered fresh hope for Sauraha’s tourism businesses as the season progresses.
