Hotels are empty, Travel agents are all loosing their grip, airlines can only fly chartered flights: tourism industry is hurt. It has been more than 4 months since the virus has choked tourism industry. While lockdown is partially lifted in Nepal, the tourism industry is still shut down. Tourism is traveling, so until and unless there is a travel ban, tourism industry is likely to lay down.
Thousands of workers are set off by hotels, travel agents and airlines. While the big hotels and Travel agents might survive this pandemic somehow but the midrange and small hotels are struggling to pay taxes and rents. The hotels and travel agents have been shut down for months. Many of these mid range hotels and travel agents are bankrupt. They have submitted their keys as they could not afford to pay the loan. Airlines can only fly repatriation flights only for those who are permitted.
Thamel, which is always crowded by tourist has been a normal road these days. The buzz is lost over there for now. Pokhara, the city for tourist is out of tourist now. Several hotels from Pokhara has been bankrupt as reported by different news portal.
Tourism is one of the major economic backbone of Nepal. As the tourism industry is crippled for now, the nation is likely to see a major economic crisis if there is not end to this pandemic anytime soon. Nepal has seen a gradual increase in the number of tourist arrival in recent years but the covid-19 pandemic and travel ban has completely stopped the flow of tourist not only in Nepal but world wide.
The cases of infected people keeps on increasing everyday. World Health organisation has warned that the situation might get worse in the future. With this news, the situation might get even worse for tourism sectors. Even if this pandemic is over, Tourism and hospitality industry will have a tough time to get back to normal unlike other sectors. The Tourism ministry, NTB and the concerned authorities are trying hard to find a possible way out of this and making strategies for tourism industry to survive through this pandemic and after.
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