POKHARA, Aug. 25: The frequency of visits by ministers, senior government officials and political leaders from Kathmandu to Pokhara for inaugurations, foundation-laying ceremonies and other official programs has declined significantly, affecting business for airlines and hotels.
According to a senior official of an airline company operating on the Kathmandu-Pokhara route, passengers associated with political parties, ministers, government officials, businesspeople and other interest groups previously accounted for around 15 percent of the route's total passengers. The share was even higher on some occasions.
Pokhara, a major tourist destination, regularly hosted ministers and senior officials traveling from Kathmandu to attend inaugurations, foundation-laying ceremonies and other formal events. They were often accompanied by party workers, aides and close associates, resulting in sizeable crowds at the airport and event venues.
On some occasions, large groups would gather at the airport to welcome or see off ministers.
While airlines and hotels benefited directly from such visits, there was comparatively little discussion about the government expenditure associated with them. Businesspeople say that a minister's visit to Pokhara often required booking at least five hotel rooms, in addition to expenses for food, transportation and other arrangements.
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However, since the formation of the current government, visits by ministers, political leaders and senior officials to Pokhara have declined noticeably. Airline operators also report a decline in the number of businesspeople and political workers traveling to Kathmandu to meet ministers and senior officials.
“Since travel by ministers, their close associates, party leaders and senior officials has declined, occupancy on the route has been affected by at least 15 percent,” a senior airline official said. “Previously, large crowds would gather at the airport to receive and see off ministers. Those activities have now stopped.”
The official said the decline in VIP travel has affected airline revenues but also reduced some unnecessary expenditure from the state treasury.
According to the official, VIP movements had also created operational challenges for airlines. Flights sometimes required special arrangements or had to accommodate the schedules of senior officials. “Not every journey should be viewed solely from a commercial perspective,” the official said. “It has now become clear that some trips previously made in the name of VIPs were unnecessary.”
The official added that the rush associated with inaugurations and other formal programs in Pokhara has declined considerably in recent months.
Hotel operators have also acknowledged the decline in visits by ministers and senior officials.
Naresh Bhattarai, operator of Mount Kailash Resort, recalled that hotels previously had to book at least five rooms whenever a minister visited Pokhara. On some occasions, managing rooms for the visiting entourage itself was challenging. “That situation no longer exists. Programs are still being held, but there is nothing like the rush we used to see,” Bhattarai said. “These days, programs are conducted in a relatively normal manner.”
Bhattarai said businesspeople are also traveling to Kathmandu less frequently to meet ministers and senior officials. “Some gaps are visible, but if there is no need to travel to Kathmandu to meet a minister or senior official for work, the problem does not arise,” he said.
In the past, businesspeople accompanying VIPs had to make additional arrangements to accommodate large groups seeking meetings with ministers.
One businessperson recalled that a minister's visit could attract dozens of people, requiring organizers and businesses to spend significantly on their management. “On one occasion, more than 50 people gathered when a minister arrived. It was not easy to manage the expenses involved,” the businessperson said. “There is no such pressure now.”
Bharat Raj Parajuli, a central committee member of the Hotel Association Pokhara, said unnecessary VIP travel in the name of inaugurations and foundation-laying ceremonies had placed an additional financial burden on the state. “There is no longer unnecessary spending in the name of inaugurations and foundation-laying ceremonies. In the past, large amounts of state money were spent when ministers and senior officials visited Pokhara under one pretext or another,” Parajuli said.
“Ultimately, that expenditure came from taxes paid by citizens. With such activities reduced, the state's expenditure has also declined to some extent,” he added.
