April 7: With the onset of summer, the number of foreign tourists visiting Chitwan has decreased. Since the weather is unfavourable for jungle-walking and jeep safari during summer, the region witnesses less number of foreign tourists during the off-season. Chitwan alone is not an exception as the arrival of tourists is low across the country, according to hotel entrepreneurs of Chitwan.

“This is an off season for tourists,” says tourism expert Bishwa Subedi. “The jungle is full of grasses and the flights gets delayed due to rainfall. This is the reason why tourists don’t prefer to visit Chitwan during this season,” he added.

According to him, majority of tourists visit Chitwan for jungle safari, jeep safari and jungle walk. Although there has been a decline in number of foreign tourists, Subedi says the number of internal tourists has not declined.

“Only the arrival of foreign tourists has declined not that of the internal tourists. In fact, the number of domestic tourists has increased compared to last year,” he added.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Regional Hotel Association of Kasara Sector, Ganesh Poudel, informed New Business Age that the occupancy of hotels is 70 percent.

“The occupancy was 100 percent until a week ago,” he said.

Poudel also said that the number of internal tourists is more compared to foreign tourists at his hotel.

According to Suman Ghimire, chairman of the Regional Hotel Association, October, November and December are ideal season for foreign tourists.

The average occupancy at hotels of Sauraha is 50 percent at present, according to Ghimire.