Floods Disrupt Nepali Tourism Season, Affecting Bookings and Damaging Infrastructure
Summary
Rasuwa floods have disrupted Nepal’s main tourism season, triggering booking cancellations and damaging hotels, restaurants, trekking routes, vehicles and heritage sites. Tourism businesses and the government are urging a "Nepal is Safe" campaign to counter negative publicity and reassure foreign visitors.
Key Points
- Advance bookings for hotels, treks, tours and flights are being cancelled after the Rasuwa floods and the US issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Nepal.
- The tourism sector is estimated to have suffered around Rs 50 billion in damage, with 142 hotels, 57 restaurants, 141 tourist vehicles and 27 heritage sites affected.
- Hotel and travel associations say the disaster is limited to specific river corridors and that most major tourist destinations remain safe and operational.
- The Tourism Ministry, Nepal Tourism Board and private sector have formed a special cell and rapid response team to provide information, rescue support and promote Nepal as safe for travel.
