Discounts galore await tourists visiting Pokhara

Pokhara: In view of the upcoming Christmas and New Year, tourism entrepreneurs in Lake City, Pokhara, have collectively introduced a new scheme under which all hotels and restaurants will offer discounts in their menu in order to lure more tourists and make their stay longer.

Restaurants and hotel entrepreneurs associated with the umbrella organization Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN) have decided to give between 10 to 15 percent discounts in their normal menu. The offer is targeted at both foreign as well as domestic tourists.

"We are hopeful that the flow of tourists into the city will go up and they will extend their stay here if we give them discount in the normal rates in the restaurant and hotel services," Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai, president of REBAN told Republica.

According to Bhattarai, REBAN has planned a 13-day long street festival to celebrate New Year and Christmas. "The discount rate will be applicable for one week beginning December 25," Bhattarai added.

Restaurant and hotel entrepreneurs are coming up with separate menus for that particular week.

REBAN officials are also trying to arrange discounts with firms that offer paragliding and rafting services. "The discussion is under way with the umbrella organization of paragliding and rafting entrepreneurs," Bhattarai said.

According to Bhattarai, the tourists who come to Pokhara to celebrate New Year and Christmas prefer to go for paragliding and short treks to the nearby mountains.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs are also working on developing new packages targeting the New Year and Christmas. "The other new packages that we will develop would include all the activities that are available in Pokhara," Bhattarai informed.

source:republica,14 Dec 2012