Arrival of Chinese tourists increasing in Lumbini but not as anticipated

KATHMANDU, August 7: The number of Chinese tourists visiting Lumbini has increased in recent months. A total of 115 tourists visited the region in February, 236 in March, 416 in April 423 in May, 393 in June, and 404 in July as per the data maintained by Lumbini Development Fund. Chinese tourists are among the third countries that visit Lumbini in May, June, and July. According to the fund, 2,005 Chinese nationals have visited Lumbini in the past seven of 2023.

The arrivals of tourists from China had halted completely following the spread of COVID-19 from 2019 while a total of 432 tourists had visited Lumbini from China in 2022. The number of arrivals in the past seven months has increased by four folds compared to the previous year. While the Chinese government had opened its borders for its citizens and tourists alike, the number of Chinese arriving in Lumbini is yet to resurface above pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, 1,009 tourists from China visited the region in July alone.  

According to Chandra Thapa, vice-president of the Nepal Association of Tours and Travel Agents (NATTA), while the number of tourists has increased, it is not as high as anticipated.

“It is natural for tourists' arrival to increase following the pandemic which has raised the hopes for the tourism entrepreneurs. In the coming season, the arrival of Chinese tourists may increase a bit more." Thapa said adding that a further increase in tourist arrivals will not be achieved unless Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa is fully operational.

He said that the delay in the Butwal-Narayangadh road expansion has also affected the number of arrivals in Lumbini. The arrival rate of domestic tourists along with Indians has decreased in Lumbini during the summer and rainy seasons. Around 27,000 Indian tourists came to Lumbini in May and June respectively while 10,000 visited in July. Last April, 99,000 domestic tourists visited Lumbini. According to the fund, 49,000 domestic tourists came in May, 31,000 in June, and 23,000 in July.