The presence of tourists on the eve of the English New Year has made businessmen in Sauraha excited. Now, the number of domestic and foreign tourists is increasing here. In previous years, there were few tourists at this time. Due to which, the hotel business was forced to operate as usual. Even a few years ago, the presence of tourists in small and big hotels in Sauraha was very low at this time.

Keshav Khanal, a tourism entrepreneur and owner of Hotel Monalisa, says that the tourist presence is good this year. ‘Last year, the occupancy of tourists was only 50 percent at this time,’ he said. ‘For the past few days, the occupancy of my hotel has been around 100 percent.’

This is the off-season for foreign tourists. At this time, they celebrate Christmas and New Year in their own country. To attract them, an elephant racing competition was started in Sauraha in 2055 BS. After various ups and downs, it has been modified and is now being organized under the name of Elephant and Tourism Festival.

The number of domestic and foreign tourists in Sauraha is increasing at this time. ‘The hotel has 44 rooms, and since a few days, there has been 100 percent room booking, which is much better than last year,’ said tourism entrepreneur Khanal. At some point towards the end of the English New Year, no tourists came to Sauraha at all. Om Pandey, President of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha (HAN), says that the presence of tourists has increased after the festival was organized in a way that does not harm the elephants, keeping in mind the protests that have been heard during the elephant festival.

‘Sauraha’s tourism is linked to elephants, tourists have been attracted by organizing programs without harming the elephants,’ said President Pandey, ‘Currently, 80 to 90 percent of hotels in Sauraha are occupied.’ He claims that tourists have increased in Sauraha during this time due to the elephant and tourism festival. ‘The hotels have been full for the past few days, the number of domestic and foreign tourists has been significant, we are hopeful that tourists will continue to be the same after the English New Year,’ he said.

After the Gen-G movement, the number of tourists coming to Sauraha and other tourist areas from India and other countries had decreased sharply. Now, with the Elephant Festival, old tourism entrepreneur Vasu Dhungana feels that tourists have increased. "Currently, Chinese and foreign tourists have not increased significantly, but Indian and domestic tourists have increased significantly," he said. He said that tourist traffic will increase only if Sauraha can leave a good impression on tourists. "This festival has played an important role in promoting tourism in Sauraha throughout the year," he said. "We are confident that the number of tourists will increase even more from next February."

Businessmen say that the presence of tourists at this festival has also sent a message that Nepal is safe and good. At least 30 to 35 percent hotel occupancy is required to cover the operating costs of hotels in Sauraha. Now it has reached a level where it can be sustained. Businessmen are excited that the number of tourists coming to Sauraha has increased by 80 to 90 percent due to this elephant and tourism festival.

‘As the influx of tourists is now good, it is estimated that the tourism business in Sauraha will have a turnover of around 50 million,’ said Mahesh Khanal, General Secretary of the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha. ‘Now, small and big hotels and restaurants have become operational, lost jobs have returned, and there is hope that bank interest can be paid.’

To attract domestic and foreign tourists, the Regional Hotel Association, Sauraha has now taken forward the program that started with the elephant racing competition as a tourism festival. The three-day Elephant and Tourism Festival ended on Sunday. Domestic and foreign tourists come to Sauraha to watch the exciting activities of elephants at the festival. The tourism sector benefits when their stay is extended. 15 stalls with local food dishes and agricultural produce were set up at the festival. Tourists also got the opportunity to taste various food items throughout the festival.