Foreign tourists planning to visit Nepal between January and March are now reconsidering their trips due to rising airfares, according to Swaa Tours and Travel company.

"We expected 40 to 50 tourists monthly during these three months," said the company’s Managing Director, Jiswan Tuladhar, in an interview with  New Business Age . "But with airfares increasing, many tourists are rethinking their plans."

Tuladhar noted that even tourists who had already confirmed their travel to Nepal are reconsidering their trip because of high ticket costs. For November, Tuladhar’s company has not seen a drop in bookings as most tourists had already purchased their tickets. However, international flights at Tribhuvan International Airport have been reduced by 30% due to ongoing upgrades that will continue until March, reducing ticket availability and pushing up prices.

Tuladhar added that many Nepalis planning trips abroad have also postponed their trips due to high airfares, with cancellations for destinations like Dubai, Thailand, and Vietnam. While pre-booked group tours have not yet been affected, high airfares could increase package costs for new bookings, potentially leading tourists to postpone their plans.

"Arrival of independent travellers who haven’t booked ticket in advance may reduce immediately, as they don’t typically book early to find cheaper tickets," said Binayak Shah, president of the Hotel Association Nepal. He explained that Nepal's airfare has long been relatively high, and further increases are causing potential visitors to reconsider their trip.

Travel agencies, who create packages for global destinations, warn that the high cost of packages to Nepal could discourage tourists. Entrepreneurs say it is also difficult for last-minute travellers to get tickets, as flights have been limited since November.

“We requested the Civil Aviation Authority to delay airport upgrades until December, but the regulatory body ignored our appeal,” added Shah.

Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), pointed out that rising airfares are impacting both tourists as well as foreign employment travel.

"Tourists are especially sensitive to airfare costs. The first thing they consider is airfare," he explained. "Tourist arrivals normally dip in November, and this year’s increase in airfares could reduce the numbers even further."