Tourism Blooming in Sauraha

Tourism in the popular jungle safari destination of Sauraha has been flourishing . According to the statistics of Chitwan National Park, it received 38,604 visitors in the first four months (mid-July to mid-November) of the fiscal year.Among the arrivals, 30,484 were foreign adventure seekers. During the same period last year, 18,138 foreign tourists had visited the park.

The battered industry received another blow when India imposed a trade embargo in September last year, the peak tourist season in Nepal. According to entrepreneurs, business plunged 50 percent as foreign visitors kept away from Sauraha which is known for its rich wildlife including the Royal Bengal tiger and one-horned rhino.

Despite of not being affected by the tremor, potential visitors stopped coming to Sauraha following exaggerated reports of widespread destruction across the country, travel traders said. Narendra Aryal, assistant conservation officer of the park, said that Sauraha’s tourism had returned to its vibrant self. According to him, the park collected Rs61.1 million in entrance fees in the first four months of the current fiscal year. There are more than 150 tourist standard hotels and resorts. Among them, 30 hotels offer international class amenities.

Sauraha is one of the key tourist destinations in the country after Kathmandu and Pokhara. “The tourism industry has significantly improved this year, but it is still not enough,” said Suman Ghimire, president of the Chitwan chapter of Hotel Association Nepal. “However, arrival figures from the last few months have shown signs of a rebound.”

Recently, tourism entrepreneurs in Sauraha asked the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to allow tourists to enter the park for three days with a single ticket. They said that such a provision would help boost the length of stay of tourists.

Foreigners have to purchase an entrance ticket costing Rs 1,695 which is good for one day. They have to pay another Rs2,000 for the services of a guide.

Source: http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-12-03/tourism-rebounds-with-a-vengeance-in-sauraha.html