At this time, many hotels in the country’s major tourist destinations are deserted. This year, the arrival of Indian guests during the ‘off season’ has provided relief to tourism entrepreneurs in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, and Muktinath. With the increase in the number of quality hotels in other destinations as well, investors have started employing various strategies to attract tourists year-round.

Since the number of tourists from third countries is not significant during the monsoon, various ‘monsoon offers’ are being launched to attract domestic guests. Star hotels announce such offers in both winter and monsoon to attract tourists. They tend to offer cheaper packages in the warmer months than in the cold. An example of this is the Lumbini Hokke Hotel, located at the birthplace of Buddha. The hotel has announced a wellness stay package for Nepali citizens at 4,999 rupees. This amount includes breakfast, a yoga session, cycling, a Peace Pagoda walk, a 10 percent discount on food, and a deluxe room.

Solti Hospitality has also introduced a summer offer for its various hotels and resorts. Targeting domestic and Indian guests, it has announced a three-night, four-day package for 25,250 rupees, covering Tiger Palace by Solti in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, and Solti Westend Pokhara at Lakeside, Pokhara. According to the package, guests can stay two nights at Solti Westend in Pokhara and one night at Tiger Palace by Solti in Bhairahawa. The package includes daily breakfast and dinner, as well as transportation. Tiger Palace by Solti also introduces separate offers on various occasions.

The five-star Siddhartha Vilasa in Bhairahawa has also announced a monsoon package. The monsoon package is cheaper than the regular one, according to Siddhartha Vilasa’s sales manager, Salu Kunwar. She said the package is targeted at Nepalis and Indians. After purchasing the 13,600-rupee package, two people will receive accommodation for one night, meals, a half-hour spa, breakfast, dinner, and swimming pool access. “The aim is to keep the hotel lively even during the off season,” she said. This offer is valid until July 29.

There are two dozen four- and five-star hotels in Rupandehi. All hotels have arranged discounts along with offers targeting the summer. The number of quality hotels exceeds one hundred. According to Siddhartha Hotel Association President C.P. Shrestha, there is more than 10 billion rupees invested in hotels and resorts. At this time, Indian tourists come to escape the heat. They go directly to Muktinath and Pokhara. “The aim is to have tourists heading to hill stations stay at least one night in Rupandehi,” he said. “For that, various offers and events are organized year-round to attract guests.”

Entrepreneurs in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, have launched campaigns to promote tourism. By expanding relations between Lumbini and Varanasi, India, a three-day Lumbini–Varanasi B2B Travel Mart and FAM trip was organized to develop them as tourist destinations. The travel mart was organized to promote tourism by linking the spirituality of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, with Varanasi, considered India’s cultural capital. Representatives from 40 small and large travel and tour operator companies and hotels from Varanasi, Delhi, Lucknow, and Bodh Gaya, India, participated.

According to Lumbini Hotel Association President Lilamani Sharma, during the three-day event that concluded on Wednesday, there were discussions, interactions, and exchanges of information about hotel packages and facilities between representatives of travel and tour operator companies and hoteliers from Lumbini and Varanasi.

This is the first travel mart operated at the private level in Lumbini. According to Lumbini Hotel Association advisor Khim Shrestha, this will further help promote Lumbini’s tourism, expand the international market, and promote religious and cultural tourism between Nepal and India. He said that Lumbini’s hotel entrepreneurs organized the event by providing accommodation and meals at their own hotels to promote tourism. There are 83 hotels and restaurants in Lumbini, ranging from four-star to budget-friendly.

Separate Discounts in Chitwan and Nepalgunj
Tourist hotels and resorts in Chitwan have arranged discounts for those visiting during the monsoon. At this time, jeep safaris are closed. However, jeep and elephant safaris are operating in the buffer community forest. Special packages have been prepared for those coming for wildlife observation. Not many people come for jungle safaris during the monsoon. Manesh Limbu, president of the Meghauli Ghatgai Nature Guide Association, says that tourists come during this season to enjoy village tours.

He said tourists enjoy visiting indigenous Tharu villages, experiencing rice planting, and enjoying the greenery. “At this time, Indians also come. Because hotels offer various discounts, Nepalis also come to stay,” he said. “They also go for jungle tours. Those who don’t go to the jungle wander around the villages. Some relax at the hotel and enjoy the swimming pool.”

There are quality tourist hotels and resorts in Meghauli. The hotels here have introduced monsoon offers. Meghauli Serai Taj Safari has launched the ‘Monsoon Magical’ package. Starting at 25,000 rupees, the offer includes a hotel room and breakfast (bed and breakfast). The swimming pool can also be used. The hotel stated that additional charges apply for other tourist activities. Tourist hotels and resorts such as Barahi Jungle Lodge and Siddhartha Wildlife Retreat are also in Meghauli.

Hotels in Jagatpur and Patihani areas near the Chitwan National Park headquarters have introduced monsoon offers. Kasara Resort has launched the ‘Kasara’s Simsimé Safari’ package for Nepalis. The name evokes the monsoon. The Kasara package starts at 6,999 rupees. The monsoon offer will be valid only until August. “A deluxe room that usually costs 12,000 rupees is now available for 8,000 rupees. This includes breakfast. If you want to go on safari, there is an extra charge. There are also discounts on that,” said Kasara Resort’s Room Division Manager, Nisan Acharya. He said that individuals, friends and families, as well as organizations and various companies, come to visit. “This has provided us some relief. The inquiries and arrivals are good,” Acharya said.

Ganesh Paudel, treasurer of the Kasara Tourism Entrepreneurs Committee and operator of Hotel Jungle Villa, said that various hotels are offering packages with discounts of 20 to 25 percent at this time. This has provided relief to both Nepali visitors and hotel entrepreneurs. “Even if you can’t visit inside the park at this time, we take guests staying at hotels in Jagatpur and Patihani to the Kasara Gharial Project. Jeep safaris are still running in the community forest. Compared to other times, hotels have created packages with 20 to 25 percent discounts on rooms and programs,” said Treasurer Paudel. At this time, the number of Nepali and foreign visitors is about equal.

Guests tend to arrive at hotels every one or two days. Therefore, the discount arrangements benefit those who come, and because tourists are more inclined to travel due to these discounts, hotel entrepreneurs also get some relief during the monsoon. Even the small and large hotels in Sauraha, which has many tourist hotels, arrange discounts at this time.

Om Pandey, president of the Regional Hotel Association (HAN) Chitwan Sauraha, said that hotels are almost empty at this time. He said that while there is little possibility of discounts on other tourist activities, hotels offer up to 20 percent discounts on rooms. Since government rates apply to elephant, boat, and jeep safaris, there are no discounts on these activities, but they offer discounts on rooms as part of the monsoon offer, according to HAN President Om Pandey.

With two days off per week and additional public holidays, the number of Nepalis traveling during the summer has been significant this time. Moreover, many Indians have also come to visit Chitwan this time. Despite the heat, there was considerable tourist activity in the Chitwan National Park area during Baisakh and Jestha. In Jestha alone, more than 30,000 tourists, both domestic and foreign, visited Chitwan National Park.

Targeting the hot season, star and well-equipped hotels in Nepalgunj have announced summer offers. To attract domestic and Indian tourists, hotels have arranged special discounts on accommodation, swimming, dining, and other services. Hotel Siddhartha Nepalgunj has arranged special discounts on swimming, beverages, and accommodation services during the summer season.

According to the hotel’s Cluster Sales and Marketing Manager, Naveen Bhatt, discounts are available for guests using the swimming pool and for those staying at the hotel. He said the hotel not only offers summer season deals but also runs various attractive offers every month. “We do not compromise on quality,” he said. According to Keshav Nyaupane, Regional Executive Director of Siddhartha Business Group of Hospitality, Indian tourists come for religious programs. “Currently, hotels in Banke are full with travelers going to Mansarovar,” he said. “Mainly, Indian tourists come for Mansarovar, Lumbini, and Pashupatinath.”

Solti Westend Premier Nepalgunj and Hotel Starlight have also launched various packages and discount schemes targeting the summer season. According to hotel entrepreneurs, summer offers are expected to attract domestic and Indian tourists to Nepalgunj and help keep the tourism business active. With the growing attraction of Indian and domestic tourists, about three thousand small and large hotels are operating in the district.

As more hotels are being added one after another in the district that connects three provinces of western Nepal with India and other provinces of Nepal, the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association has stated that more than 1.2 billion rupees have been invested in these hotels. According to the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, two five-star hotels have already opened in Kohalpur and Nepalgunj in Banke. There are two four-star hotels. The rest are three-star and other well-equipped tourist hotels.

With the increase in Indian tourists due to the short route from Nepalgunj to Mansarovar via Humla Simikot, investment in the hotel business has also been increasing, according to Bhimlal Kandel, president of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, Banke. Entrepreneurs in the tourist area of Thakurbaba, Bardiya, have arranged discounts of 15 to 25 percent on various services targeting the monsoon season.