Pokhara Sees Surge in Tourist Arrivals During Dashain-Tihar Holidays

Pokhara is currently witnessing a significant influx of both domestic and foreign tourists, boosted by the long Dashain-Tihar holidays, clear mountain views, and favorable weather conditions. Hotels, restaurants, and other tourism activities in the city have reported a noticeable rise in activity, sending a positive signal to tourism entrepreneurs and the sector at large.

“The tourism sector in Pokhara, which has been hit by various setbacks in recent years, is now beginning to feel some relief. During Tihar, domestic and foreign tourists are arriving in satisfactory numbers,” said Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara. “Thanks to the long holidays and favorable weather, around 90 percent of lakeside hotels are currently occupied.”

The rise in tourist numbers has been fueled by travelers heading for Annapurna trekking routes and Mustang via Pokhara, along with visits to nearby attractions. This increased footfall is expected to benefit tourism not only in Pokhara but across the entire Gandaki province.

According to President Subedi, Pokhara has approximately 1,200 tourist-level hotels, with 700 concentrated around lakeside and damsite areas. These hotels have the capacity to accommodate roughly 40,000 guests per night.

Krishna Acharya, President of the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN), Pokhara, highlighted that the Annapurna region’s scenic trails continue to attract trekkers from across the globe. “The arrival of both domestic and foreign tourists is very encouraging,” he said. He added that TAAN has recently promoted the Annapurna North, also known as the Maurice Herzog Trail, to further boost trekking tourism.

Bishwaraj Poudel, President of the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara, also expressed satisfaction over the encouraging number of tourist arrivals during Tihar, noting that the current figures are even better than during Dashain.

However, Pokhara Tourism Council Senior Vice President Hari Bhujel emphasized that seasonal tourist surges alone cannot sustain long-term investment in the tourism sector. He called for a government-led, sustainable tourism strategy to attract visitors throughout the year. “The state should ensure a safe tourism environment, as natural disasters, political instability, and pandemics directly impact the sector,” he added.