Long dark Covid-19 shadow looms over tourism destination Thamel

Feb 12, 2022

Kathmandu (Nepal), Feb 12 (ANI): Thamel, which is popularly known as one of the major tourist hub in Nepali capital, missing the tourists since COVID-19 pandemic impacted the economic and social importance of the Himalayan nation. Kamal Raj Singh Suwal just had started his restaurant in Thamel. His shop which earlier use to be filled with foodies craving for street foods now has turned into go-down and Suwal comes to the place every morning to check if mouse has entered the vicinity adding on the damage. The streets of Thamel which earlier use to be abuzz with foreigners now bear a deserted look. Many of the businesses have already have bid adieu to the tourist hotspot searching for opportunities elsewhere, those left behin dare struggling to remain afloat. As per a survey made by Kathmandu Living Labs in partnership with organizations, about 17 percent of the tourism enterprises in Nepal has permanently shut since March 2020. However, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel where the influx of foreign tourists to Nepal has increased over 91 percent, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Over 16,000 foreign tourists visited Nepal in January, 2022 as opposed to 8,874 during the same period in the previous year. The increment in the tourist inflow is 91.3 percent. All the incoming tourists used air route for the arrival. During the same period, 17,984 Nepali people left the country for foreign countries. In order to lure the tourists to enter Himalayan nation, the Government also has resumed the visa on arrival scheme which was kept on hold in wake of rising COVID-19 infection fueled by Omicron variant.