Chitwan National Park sees 25 percent decline in tourists

CHITWAN, July 23: Hotel entrepreneur Gunaraj Thapaliya from Sauraha had no reason to feel disappointed two years ago. His hotel, which had once fallen silent during the earthquake, blockade, and COVID-19 pandemic, remained full throughout the year. However, the same could not be said for the last fiscal year. “It was even worse than during the earthquake or blockade. We received the fewest tourists last year. Less than 50 percent of our rooms were occupied,” Thapaliya said, “Not even during the pandemic had it been this bad.”