KATHMANDU, Sept 12: Nepal’s tourism sector has suffered an estimated Rs 52.13 billion in losses after the glacial flood swept through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors, dealing a heavy blow to hotels, restaurants, trekking routes and other tourism infrastructure in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha.
The preliminary assessment by the Bhotekoshi Glacial Flood Damage Assessment Committee, formed by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), puts the total loss to the tourism sector at Rs 52.13 billion.
The scale of the damage is particularly severe for the hotel industry. According to data provided by the Hotel Professional Federation Nepal (HPFN), 207 hotels and restaurants were damaged, with hotels alone accounting for Rs 19.56 billion in losses.
The committee, coordinated by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) member Sahadev Dhamala and involving private-sector representatives, assessed damage to tourism-related businesses and infrastructure in the flood-hit areas.
The ministry analyzed the data collected through field assessments to determine the wider impact on the tourism sector. According to the report, restaurants suffered losses of Rs 1.38 billion, vehicles Rs 1.51 billion, trekking trails Rs 50 million, heritage sites and tourism infrastructure Rs 1.12 billion, and rafting and camping sites Rs 155 million.
The disaster has also hit tourism earnings hard. Hotels and restaurants in the affected areas are estimated to have lost Rs 14.60 billion in income from foreign tourists, while commercial activity in the Langtang region suffered losses of Rs 1.27 billion. Domestic tourism income suffered an estimated loss of Rs 198.7 million.
Tourism sector faces over Rs 50 billion losses from Bhotekoshi...
The assessment has additionally estimated Rs 12.26 billion for the sustenance of families and management of human resources in the affected areas, taking the overall estimated loss to Rs 52.13 billion.
Committee coordinator Dhamala said officials from the NTB and MoCTCA were continuing to assess the damage and prepare a detailed report.
“At a time when the tourism sector is in crisis, we are working together. The board, private-sector representatives and ministry officials are jointly working to convey a positive message about Nepal’s tourism,” Dhamala said.
He said the Ministry and private sector were coordinating closely to accelerate recovery efforts and urged stakeholders to refrain from negative commentary that could further affect the already struggling tourism sector.
According to Dhamala, the NTB, tourism entrepreneurs and various associations have been working together on relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts following the disaster.
Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) President Binayak Shah said the preliminary assessment was the result of a collective effort by stakeholders.
“The Association had deployed its representatives to assist with the field assessment,” Shah said. He added that collecting damage data had been particularly challenging because of the scale of the human loss, with family members still missing in some affected areas.
Beyond the physical destruction, tourism entrepreneurs are concerned about the longer-term impact of the disaster on Nepal’s image as a tourist destination.
Sagar Pandey, president of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), said the sector should now move toward a gradual recovery plan based on the damage assessment.
“The impact on the gateway to Tibet is gradually being felt on trekking routes in Nepal as well,” Pandey said. “Recovery means increasing activities and moving forward.”
He said tourism authorities and businesses should gradually promote destinations and activities in areas that remain accessible, as rebuilding damaged infrastructure would take time.
Pandey said alternative routes could increase operating costs and make some tourism packages more expensive, but expressed confidence that the situation could gradually return to normal as tourism activities resumed.
The Bhotekoshi flood was an unusual disaster, and the deaths and disappearance of foreign tourists have also raised concerns about its impact on Nepal’s international tourism image.
Pandey said growing international concern and travel advisories issued following the deaths and disappearances of tourists could affect Nepal’s tourism industry for some time.
“With the tourist season approaching in September and October, everyone should focus on gradually increasing tourism activities and recovering from the losses caused by the disaster,” he said.
Bharat Jung Pandey, president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), said the tourism sector was mobilizing support from its respective areas instead of waiting for others to come to its aid. “In times of disaster, we have to get back on our feet ourselves,” he said.
