As the monsoon season recedes, the hotel industry in Sauraha is abuzz with preparations for the anticipated influx of tourists. Hoteliers are working diligently to ready their establishments for what they hope will be a busy season ahead.
Ramesh Silwal, manager of Hotel Bhistaka, is currently engaged in extensive renovations and cleaning at his property. Silwal, who has been overseeing painting and tiling tasks, plans to complete these updates within the next day or two. “Once we finish painting and tiling, we’ll be ready to invite tourists back in,” he said. Despite the lower number of visitors during the rainy season, Silwal noted that staff are staying on-site to maintain the hotel, a shift from past practices where staff might have been given time off.
Similarly, Suman Ghimire, manager of Jungle Safari Lodge, is fully occupied with similar tasks, including cleaning and maintenance. Ghimire, who also served as the former president of the Regional Hotel Association, is optimistic about an increase in tourist arrivals starting from the month of Ashwin (October). He anticipates that, with the end of the rains and improved road conditions, visitor numbers will rise from the first week of Ashwin. Ghimire also highlighted that his team expects to finish all maintenance work by the end of the month and that the hotel garden will soon be in full bloom, adding to the appeal for arriving tourists.
In another sign of optimism, Hotel Seven Limited has reported a recent uptick in tourist arrivals. Santosh Pathak, the hotel’s managing director, shared that the hotel has seen a noticeable increase in visitors over the past two weeks. The hotel has been undertaking significant renovations during the low season, including painting and maintenance work. Pathak’s team is also in the process of transforming the hotel into a five-star property, with plans to add 98 new rooms and two large halls, increasing its capacity to 1,000 guests.
Deependra Khatiwada, former president of the Restaurant and Bar Association and head of the United Elephant Operation Cooperative, provided an update on the local restaurant scene. He reported that 80 restaurants in Sauraha have completed their maintenance work and are now preparing to welcome tourists. Khatiwada noted that the entire tourism sector in Sauraha is gearing up for the upcoming season.
Gunraj Thapaliya, General Secretary of the Regional Hotel Association, discussed the impact of the monsoon season on tourism. He noted that the heavy rains had significantly reduced tourist arrivals due to damaged roads. However, with the weather expected to improve, Thapaliya and other tourism professionals are preparing for a rebound in visitor numbers.
Sauraha, located at the gateway to Chitwan National Park, is home to over 150 hotels with a total capacity of 6,500 guests. The park is renowned for its jungle safaris, which attract both domestic and international tourists. Thapaliya expressed hope that tourist numbers will increase as the new season approaches, boosted by repairs to the park’s internal roads and the resumption of jeep safaris. The upcoming festive season is also expected to contribute to a rise in domestic tourist activity.
As Sauraha transitions out of the monsoon season, the local tourism industry remains hopeful for a successful and bustling tourist season ahead.
