The autumn season is a prime time for tourists, especially those looking to trek and climb the Himalayas. This is when many travelers make their way from Manthali in Ramechhap to Lukla, en route to Everest Base Camp. However, unpredictable weather often disrupts their journeys. Currently, over 1,000 foreign tourists are stranded in Manthali due to poor weather conditions at Lukla, causing flight delays and cancellations.
While some tourists were able to fly out on Wednesday, only 18 flights took off before the weather worsened again, leaving many still waiting. Manthali has been serving as a hub for flights to Lukla for the past four years, with tourists arriving by road from Kathmandu and flying to Lukla from Manthali. However, the town’s accommodation capacity has been overwhelmed, making it difficult for local hotel businesses to meet the demand.
Shekharman Shrestha, former president of the Hotel and Tourism Business Association of Ramechhap, stated that managing the influx of tourists becomes challenging when weather conditions force delays. With only 50 hotels in Manthali, the area can accommodate up to 1,000 tourists, but current numbers have exceeded 1,300, creating a strain on available lodging.
Due to the busy schedule at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, many tourists heading to Lukla are diverted to the closer Manthali Airport. Despite plans for around 55 flights daily during favorable weather, recent conditions have limited operations, leaving many tourists stranded, said Hirona Kumar Shah, head of the Civil Aviation Office in Ramechhap.
Chandra Bahadur Lamichhane, a tourist assistant, added that overcrowding has made it difficult to provide adequate accommodations for stranded tourists. Some have opted to reach Lukla by helicopter or return to Kathmandu by road, but the majority remain stuck, causing logistical challenges.
To address the growing number of stranded tourists, Manthali Municipality has set up passenger assistance services at the airport and has trained locals to run homestays, said Hemant Budhathoki, the municipality’s information officer. The local government is committed to ensuring that tourists receive proper lodging and are not overcharged during their stay.
Local community leader Bipin Bhattarai emphasized the need for better infrastructure to handle the increasing tourist traffic. He noted that improving facilities in Manthali would not only help manage situations like the current weather disruption but also contribute to making the town a key tourist hub in the future.
Source: RSS
