Pokhara Sees 90% Hotel Occupancy Amid Long Dashain-Tihar Holidays

POKHARA, October 26, 2025 (11:41 AM)

Pokhara is bustling with tourists this festive season as the long Dashain-Tihar holidays, clear mountain views, and pleasant weather draw both domestic and international visitors to the city. Hotels, restaurants, and tourism-related businesses are witnessing a strong surge in activity, bringing optimism to the local tourism sector.

“The tourism industry in Pokhara, which had been struggling due to multiple setbacks, is finally seeing some relief,” said Laxman Subedi, President of the Hotel Association Pokhara. “Especially during Tihar, the arrival of domestic and foreign tourists has been encouraging. Around 90 percent of the hotels in the Lakeside area are currently occupied,” he added.

The influx includes travelers heading toward the Annapurna trekking routes and Mustang, further boosting local business. Tourism entrepreneurs expect this rise to have a positive ripple effect throughout the Gandaki Province.

According to Subedi, Pokhara currently hosts around 1,200 tourist-standard hotels, with 700 concentrated in the Lakeside and Damside areas. Collectively, these hotels can accommodate up to 40,000 guests per night.

Krishna Acharya, President of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) Pokhara, highlighted that the region’s scenic trekking routes continue to attract global attention. “The Annapurna region offers countless breathtaking trails. The recent promotion of the Annapurna North, also known as the Maurice Herzog Trail, has further increased tourist interest,” he said.

Similarly, Bishwaraj Poudel, President of the Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN) Pokhara, expressed satisfaction at the strong turnout, noting that “tourist arrivals during Tihar have been even better than during Dashain.”

However, Hari Bhujel, Senior Vice President of the Pokhara Tourism Council, cautioned that a single busy season cannot sustain the sector’s overall growth. “The government must develop a long-term plan to attract tourists year-round,” he stated. He also emphasized the need for a sustainable tourism strategy to safeguard the industry from the impacts of natural disasters, political instability, and global crises like pandemics.