Indian Tourists Flock to Nepal Amidst Off-Season

Kathmandu. With the onset of the monsoon, tourist activities tend to slow down and businesses become less busy.

In Nepal, Jestha and Asar are considered the 'off-season' from a tourism perspective. However, this year, the sector remains active even in Asar. A significant number of pilgrims from neighboring countries have become tourists during this time. Major tourist destinations from east to west are bustling.

Currently, 2 to 3 thousand Indian-plated vehicles are entering Nepal daily through various border crossings.

Why Nepal?

Generally, two people travel on a motorcycle and at least four people in a car or jeep. Pilgrims, however, come in large groups, traveling by bus. Thus, thousands of Indian citizens are entering Nepal daily by land route.

Although Asar is the time for the monsoon to enter Nepal and for road problems, it is also the period when extreme heat prevails in various states of India. To escape the intense heat in the plains of India, Indians are attracted to cooler, hilly regions.

Due to excessive crowds and high costs in tourist destinations like Darjeeling or Shimla in India, many Indian families are choosing Nepal as a suitable and convenient alternative. Additionally, the long school holidays in India are another major reason.

Promotional campaigns conducted by Nepali tourism entrepreneurs in various Indian cities have also contributed to this. Especially, tourism entrepreneurs in Pokhara and Bhairahawa have been organizing promotional programs in border towns and major cities of India. Furthermore, the promotion of Nepali tourist destinations on social media and videos created by Indian bloggers and influencers have also increased attraction towards Nepal, according to entrepreneurs.

In previous years, Indian tourists primarily visited border towns or focused on religious sites like Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and Muktinath in Mustang. However, recently, there has been a change in the pattern of Indian tourists' visits. They have started traveling to the hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal for recreation and sightseeing.  

India's Dollar Policy and Gulf Tensions Make Nepal a Choice

The primary reason for the increase in Indian tourists this year is the policy of the Indian government. To conserve dollar reserves, the Indian government has been encouraging its citizens to visit neighboring countries like Nepal, where their own currency is easily accepted or less dollar is spent, instead of traveling to countries that require significant dollar expenditure. The second reason is that due to tensions in the Middle East and other international destinations, and high airfares, many Indian tourists have changed their travel plans and chosen Nepal.

Nepal has become the first choice destination for them as it offers quality family trips even on a low budget.

Destinations previously frequented by Indian citizens such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Dubai have become expensive and inconvenient.

With airfares also increasing significantly, Nepal has become a suitable and affordable option for them. Additionally, the Indian government's policy to encourage travel within the country or to nearby regions to save foreign exchange has made neighboring countries like Nepal, where dollars are not spent, a preferred choice.

Promotional programs like 'Garmi Se Behaal, Chalo Nepal' recently organized by the Hotel Association Nepal in India have also had a positive impact.

Enthusiasm Increased Among Indian Tourists: NATTA

Kumarmani Thapaliya, President of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), stated that the increasing arrival of Indian tourists via land route has added new enthusiasm to the Nepali tourism sector.

Highlighting that the increase in the number of Indian tourists has made the tourism business dynamic, he emphasized the need to focus on preparations and tourism management from now on to make the upcoming tourist season fruitful.

Thapaliya informed that the arrival of Indian tourists in the current year has informally doubled compared to last year. He mentioned that among the Indian tourists entering Nepal, those arriving with their own vehicles ('self-drive') are predominant.

Addressing the recent discussions about Indian tourists and pilgrims spending nights by the roadside or in their own vehicles, President Thapaliya said, 'Pilgrims are our jewels. They have come to Nepal with religious devotion, and it is our responsibility to manage them properly.'

He suggested that for a long-term solution to this problem, informative pamphlets or information materials about Nepal's tourist destinations and suitable accommodation places should be distributed at the border crossings when vehicles enter. He believes that if drivers and support staff are provided with prior information about where accommodation is arranged and where it is not, these minor management issues can be resolved immediately.

Currently, tourists entering Nepal are not limited to Pokhara but are also visiting Janakpur, Chitwan, Muktinath, Jomsom, and Kathmandu. This directly benefits the overall economy of the country and tourism entrepreneurs in various sectors. With the increase in tourist arrivals, hotel bookings (occupancy) in tourist areas have significantly improved. 'Previously, due to intense competition, hotel entrepreneurs were forced to offer rooms below cost price,' said President Thapaliya, 'Now, with improved occupancy, hotels are able to sell their services at appropriate rates, which has provided significant financial relief to the entire tourism industry.'

President Thapaliya expressed concern about tourists traveling directly from the plains and low-altitude Indian regions to hilly and mountainous areas in their own vehicles experiencing 'altitude sickness'. He stressed the need to provide adequate information about the health risks due to altitude for tourists traveling to areas like Jomsom and Muktinath.

He believes it is necessary to provide information related to safe travel to tourists at the border crossings and on major highways.

According to DSP Krishna Ojha of the Nepal Tourist Police, Indian tourists traveling directly to high-altitude areas like Jomsom and Muktinath via the Birgunj border crossing with their own vehicles are experiencing altitude sickness due to a lack of information and awareness. DSP Ojha told RatoPati that due to insufficient information on this matter, some tourists fall ill, and one or two such incidents have been reported recently.

Hotel Occupancy Increased

Currently, Indian tourists are visiting not only Muktinath in Mustang but also Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Lumbini, Palpa, Bardia, and Baglung. The number of people going for jungle safaris in Chitwan and Bardia is also significant, while Indian families are visiting resorts in Palpa, Baglung, Manang, and Pokhara to enjoy the cool mountain weather and natural scenery.

In Pokhara, hotel occupancy has reached around 90 percent, which is rarely seen during this season, according to business owners. Additionally, the number of tourists coming to enjoy the well-equipped casinos and entertainment centers in the border cities is also significant.

During this period, hotels in Nepalgunj, Kathmandu, and Pokhara have also received significant support from Indian pilgrims and other tourists traveling to Kailash Mansarovar via land and air routes. Most of the tourists currently arriving are coming directly and informally rather than through package bookings via travel agencies. They book hotels directly and coordinate with travel agencies for transportation services only when needed, as mentioned by NATTA President Thapaliya.

Binayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), shared important information about the current hustle and bustle in tourist areas and the business situation of hotels.

Despite it being called the off-season, he said that hotel occupancy in tourist areas like Pokhara, Chitwan, Mustang, and Manang has increased significantly. He attributed this increase in occupancy mainly to the arrival of Indian tourists. He explained that various external and internal circumstances have played a role in attracting Indian tourists to Nepal.

'Tourist activity is good in areas like Pokhara, Lo Manthang, Muktinath, and Jomsom, and hotel occupancy in those areas has exceeded 70 to 75 percent,' informed President Shah. He added that contrary to the common perception that Indian tourists do not spend much in Nepal, they are willing to spend if provided with activities according to their interests, adventure sports (like bungee jumping), and diverse food options. He analyzed that only by diversifying services according to tourist demand and market needs can they benefit more from them.

He stated that although Nepal's hotel sector has developed the capacity to serve about 3.5 to 4 million tourists annually, the arrival of tourists has not been in proportion. He also mentioned that it is challenging to make the current hustle and bustle institutional and long-term as it is seasonal and limited to a few days.

For this, it is possible to attract tourists from European countries (e.g., Italy, Portugal, Spain) and China, which experience extreme heat during the summer. He emphasized that the government needs to formulate a concrete national strategy and master plan to organize this task.

'Cross-Border Tourism Concept Worked'

According to Surya Thapaliya, a senior officer at the Nepal Tourism Board, there has been a significant increase in the number of Indians choosing Nepal as a suitable and nearby destination to escape the summer heat. Especially with expensive airfares making distant foreign destinations costly, Nepal, a neighboring country, has proven to be an easy, accessible, and affordable option for Indians.

Thapaliya stated that the geographical convenience, allowing Indian tourists to easily enter Nepal with their own vehicles through the border and reach cool hilly destinations in a short time, has been its main attraction.

The Nepal Tourism Board has been aggressively promoting the concept of 'Cross-Border Tourism' targeting the border areas of India for the past 5-6 years. Officer Thapaliya informed that under this strategy, promotional programs have been continuously conducted in the Indian states bordering major crossings like Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadhi (West Bengal, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar).

The construction of quality hotels, resorts, casinos, and fun parks on the Nepali side after crossing the border has also attracted Indians to spend their weekends and short holidays in Nepal.

This has made it very convenient for them to reach Ilam from the eastern border and cool hilly places from the western border. The development of digital payment systems (online QR payments) in Nepal recently has also provided great relief to Indian tourists during their stay in Nepal. Previously, they had to carry cash and deal with currency exchange hassles, but now with online payments becoming easier, it has become very convenient for them.

Furthermore, as the exchange rate of the Nepali Rupee against the Indian Rupee remains stable compared to the dollar, Nepal feels much more economical to visit compared to other countries where dollars have to be spent, making it their natural choice.

Thapaliya's analysis suggests that due to promotion through social media and digital platforms, Nepal is also establishing itself as a major tourist destination among the younger generation of Indians.

Complaints have been coming from tourist areas regarding some practical activities of Indian tourists who enter Nepal with their own vehicles after obtaining a pass. Some tourists have been found pitching tents, cooking, eating, and littering indiscriminately along roadsides or in open spaces.

There has been a positive change in the nature and spending habits of Indian tourists visiting Nepal recently. Compared to tourists who previously came only for religious and pilgrimage purposes and spent minimally, there has been an increase in the arrival of middle and high-income family groups and young people. Among the large population in neighboring areas and big cities of India like Kathmandu, there is a significant proportion of middle-class and high-income youth who can spend well on quality services, entertainment, and comfortable stays.

Their habit of traveling in family groups has directly increased the consumption of hotels, transportation, and local products, directly supporting local employment and businesses.

Focus on Quality Service, Infrastructure Development, and Hospitality

Officer Thapaliya pointed out that with the increase in the number of tourists, Nepal needs to further improve its infrastructure and service quality. Tourists often complain that Nepal's road infrastructure needs to be more robust, although the upgrading of the country's major tourist roads is progressing rapidly.

Although it is difficult to keep exact statistics of Indian tourists arriving by land route due to open borders, it is estimated that around 1.5 to 1.7 million Indians used to come to Nepal annually by land route in the past. Considering the current encouraging arrivals and the ease of online registration at the borders, the board projects that the number of Indian tourists arriving by land route alone this year could reach 2 to 2.2 million.

What are the Security Challenges?

With the significant increase in the arrival of Indian tourists in Nepal, the activity of the tourist police has increased to make tourist activities safe and organized. According to DSP Krishna Ojha of the Nepal Tourist Police, although the increasing arrival of Indian tourists has had a positive impact on business, it has also brought some new challenges and complaints.

Complaints have been coming from tourist areas regarding some practical activities of Indian tourists who enter Nepal with their own vehicles after obtaining a pass. Some tourists have been found pitching tents, cooking, eating, and littering indiscriminately along roadsides or in open spaces.

Since such activities spoil environmental beauty and increase local dissatisfaction, the tourist police are politely explaining and cautioning such vehicles and tourists at various checkpoints and destinations not to do so indiscriminately and to camp only in designated areas.

Furthermore, among the complaints registered with the tourist police, 'overbilling' (excessive charge collection) in nightlife entertainment areas is a major one. Indian tourists visit dance bars, discos, and clubs in various tourist cities of Nepal, and after consuming food and other entertainment services there, they complain to the police about being charged excessively.

DSP Ojha clarified that in cases of overbilling and fraud involving excessive charges, the tourist police immediately intervene, investigate, resolve disputes, and ensure justice for the tourists.

Nepal is becoming an easy and open entertainment destination for Indian tourists. Due to the prohibition of alcohol and strictness in nightlife entertainment in some border states of India, Indian tourists prefer to spend time freely in Nepal's dance bars and clubs.

This type of free environment and Nepal being a comparatively cheaper destination has also increased their attraction towards Nepal. The tourist police have reported that despite it being called the off-season, there is significant activity of Indian tourists in Pokhara, Lumbini, Muktinath, and Jomsom areas.

'Hospitality Sector Feels Relief'

Nepal's hotel and hospitality sector has felt relief during the traditionally slow off-season due to the large influx of Indian tourists. According to Krishna Neupane, CEO of Siddhartha Business Group of Hospitality, there has been a significant increase in the number of Indian tourists coming to Nepal this year, which has kept the hotel business from slowing down.

Neupane's analysis suggests that global circumstances, the government policy of a neighboring country, and the domestic tourism environment have greatly contributed to such a large number of Indian tourists coming to Nepal.

This year, after the Chinese government relaxed the visa process and tourists who had planned for the whole year were able to book easily, there has been a good arrival of high-income Indian tourists going to Mansarovar, which has directly benefited hotels and travel agencies in Nepal.

According to Neupane, the positive changes in Nepal's branding and promotion have also attracted the new generation of Indian tourists. The cleanliness and management initiatives taken by local levels, including Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and positive videos spreading on YouTube, vlogs, and social media stating that Nepal is clean and safe have also increased the attraction towards Nepal among the young generation of Indians (Gen-Z).

Although hotel occupancy has increased, Neupane pointed out that the average spending capacity of tourists (per capita spending) still needs improvement. He stated that to make the hotel business more profitable and improve the quality of tourists, infrastructure development and specialized services are necessary.

Benefit to Hotel Business with Resumption of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

CEO Neupane said that the improvement in the Mansarovar yatra this year has made a special contribution to the hotel business in terms of religious tourism.

After the historic arrival in 2018, the number of Indian tourists going to Mansarovar had become almost zero due to COVID-19 and China's visa policies. Last year too, tourists could not come because the visa process was very slow and strict.

However, this year, after the Chinese government relaxed the visa process and tourists who had planned for the whole year were able to book easily, there has been a good arrival of high-income Indian tourists going to Mansarovar, which has directly benefited hotels and travel agencies in Nepal.