Gulf war batters Pokhara tourism as half of peak-season bookings cancelled
Summary
The Gulf conflict has led to around 50 percent cancellations of peak-season bookings by American and European tourists in Pokhara's Annapurna trekking region, severely impacting local tourism businesses and prompting calls to diversify target markets towards East Asia and other regions.
Key Points
- The ongoing Gulf war has caused a 50 percent cancellation rate of foreign tourists' bookings in Pokhara and the Annapurna region during the peak spring season.
- American and European tourists, who form the majority of visitors, have canceled or deferred travel plans, affecting hotels, restaurants, and trekking agencies.
- Nepal's tourism recovery remains fragile due to overlapping crises including Covid-19, domestic protests, and safety concerns.
- Authorities and the Nepal Tourism Board are urged to diversify tourism marketing towards East Asian countries and other regions with direct flight connectivity to mitigate the impact.
