Additional 50 hotels to be Opened in Pokhara

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Additional 50 hotels to be Opened in Pokhara

June 21: Investment in the hotel industry of Nepal’s tourist area-Pokhara has increased in recent times.

Investment in new large scale hotels is increasing rapidly with the increase in attraction of private investors towards hotel sector. During the period of last one year, around 50 hotels have started operation in Pokhara, a world renowned tourist area.

“Small scale to 5-star hotels will be opened,” said Bikal Tulachan, President of Western Regional Hotel Association. “Investment in hospitality sector of Pokhara has increased a lot and around additional 50 hotels will be opened till the upcoming Dashain festival. Last year, around 30 hotels were established.” he further informed.

Currently, around 650 hotels are operating in and around Pokhara with around 400 hotels affiliated to the association itself.

Almost all the new hotels have space of over 30 rooms each. Most of the hotels are being established near lake-side area and some hotels in Begnas lake, Rupakot, Sarangkot, Naudada, Kandanidada, Pumdibhumdi, Dhampush area, informed Tulachan.

Investment of around Rs. 100 million is made even in the small scale tourist-based hotels. Whereas, more than Rs. 1 billion is being invested in large scale hotels, said Tulachan. More than 50 thousand people are employed directly or indirectly under the hotel industry in Pokhara.

Well- facilitated hotels should be increased in Pokhara rather than increasing the number of hotels, said Naresh Bhattarai, Managing Director of Mount Kailash Resort of Pokhara.

Investment in the hotel sector has increased also due to further process in establishment of international level hotels and international airport in Pokhara, presumes Bhattarai.

Currently, more than 16 thousand beds are available in hotels of Pokhara. Also, Tulachan estimates the number to be increased by 2,500 beds in the current fiscal year itself. Tulachan explained that investment in hotel sector increased due to interest shown by financial institutions towards it.

Hotel industry affected due to the devastating earthquake two years ago and the subsequent blockade in the border is slowly achieving success. Though the number of Chinese tourists has decreased compared to that of before earthquake, increase in number of Indian tourists is seen at present.

Hotels of Pokhara have made an important contribution to the tourism development sector of Nepal. “Jaun hai Pokhara”(let's visit Pokhara) and “Chaliye Pokhara” campaign organized by tourism entrepreneurs is also attracting tourists, informed Bharat Raj Parajuli, Vice President of Western Regional Hotel Association. He blamed that the government is indifferent towards tourism sector of Pokhara, despite private sector contributing to it.

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