Nepal launches #NepalCalling campaign as flood fears trigger tourism cancellations
About 20% of peak-season bookings at one Kathmandu hotel have already been cancelled following the Bhotekoshi disaster.
Nepal has launched a #NepalCalling campaign to reassure international tourists that the country remains open after the Bhotekoshi disaster triggered a wave of cancellations ahead of the peak September-November tourism season.
The disaster in northern Nepal has created a perception among potential visitors that the impact has spread across the country, despite most major tourist destinations and airports continuing to operate normally, reports The Kathmandu Post.
Mandip Giri, managing director of Dom Himalaya Hotel in Kathmandu, said about 20% of his bookings had been cancelled within a week of the 26 August disaster, particularly those made online.
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September-November accounts for nearly 40% of Nepal's annual foreign tourist arrivals, making the cancellations a major concern for the tourism sector. Nepal received 85,444 foreign visitors in August, down 3.65% from the same month last year.
Tourism Minister Khadak Raj Paudel has urged tourists to visit Nepal, saying the country's mountain trails and trekking routes remain open.
"Your coming to Nepal this time does not mean only a holiday. It's a big support to the country fighting this catastrophic tragedy of flash floods," he said in a video message on Facebook using the hashtag #NepalCalling.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal also told diplomats and development partners that the disaster was geographically localised. Airports in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini and Janakpur, as well as the Annapurna and Everest regions, remain open to tourists, he said
The Hotel Association Nepal has urged the government to use Nepali embassies and missions abroad to communicate that the country remains safe for tourists.
The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, however, has warned against travel to Rasuwa, where the Langtang Valley trek, Gosainkunda, Helambu Circuit and Tamang Heritage Trail are currently closed or restricted.
"Except Rasuwa, the rest of Nepal is intact," said Sagar Pandey, president of the association.
Tourism contributes around 6.7% to Nepal's GDP and supports more than a million jobs. Industry representatives have proposed measures including free visas, hotel discounts and airfare reductions to help restore visitor confidence.
The Nepal Tourism Board is working with the tourism ministry to strengthen the #NepalCalling campaign, while the government is also considering longer-term measures to support tourism workers affected by the disaster, according to The Kathmandu Post.
