Tourists Cut Trips Short as Nepal’s Unrest Disrupts Travel

Foreign visitors are shortening their stays and departing Nepal early as the country struggles with the aftermath of violent Gen Z protests and days of flight disruptions.

Tribhuvan International Airport, which was closed from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday evening, resumed flights just as anxious travelers began asking the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and tour operators for assistance to leave. In response, the NTB coordinated with private operators to launch a free shuttle service on Thursday, transporting guests from major hotels to the airport and bringing incoming passengers to their destinations.

Three shuttle routes now link the airport with key tourist areas and hotels, including Thamel, Yak & Yeti, Shankar, Ambassador, Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Dwarika’s, Soaltee and Hotel Grand. One route also includes the Hilton Kathmandu, though the property was destroyed in recent arson attacks. Drivers on the shuttle service reported that outbound passengers far outnumber new arrivals.

Tour operators say cancellations have already begun. “If the situation doesn’t stabilize in a day or two, booking cancellations will accelerate,” said Bijay Amatya, CEO of Kora Tours. He noted that several visitors bound for Dhulikhel, Pokhara and Chitwan have either turned back or postponed travel. “Trekkers will face difficulties if uncertainty continues,” he added.

Hotel occupancy is also sliding. Shashikant Agrawal, operator of Kathmandu Marriott, said occupancy fell to around 50 percent by Thursday, with few new guests arriving. Soaltee Hotel Vice President Sudarshan Chapagain reported that about 60 tourists remained but many were checking out. “The situation is affecting tourism directly,” he said.

Ashok Chandra Pokharel, managing director of Shangri-La Tours, urged a swift end to the political and security crisis to limit damage to Nepal’s tourism sector. “If a new government is formed quickly and curfews are lifted, we can still contain the losses,” he said, warning that foreign tour operators may redirect travelers to other countries if instability persists.

The tourist exodus follows violent demonstrations that began on September 8, when security forces opened fire on protesters opposing social-media restrictions and corruption, killing 19 people. The next day, mobs torched parliament, Singha Durbar, and major commercial hubs, causing billions of rupees in property damage and prompting airport closures that stranded visitors across the country.