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Tourist arrivals in Chitwan decrease

Chitwan: The number of tourists visiting Chitwan National Park has decreased this year following the closure of half a dozen hotels inside the park. They have remained closed for the last two years after the government terminated their lease citing environmental concerns.

The number of safari goers has decreased by 16,000 this year. According to the national park, 137,626 tourists entered the park zone as of May compared to 154,400 during the same period last year.

But the national park said revenue had increased this year. It collected Rs 166.1 million during the review period compared to Rs 76.1 million previously.

Tourist entry into the park through three out of the nine transit points was nil. Tourists enter the national park at Sunachuri, Khagendra Malli, Sauraha, Ghatagai, Patihani, Jagatpur, Kujauli, Laukhani and Amaltari. After the hotels inside the protected area were shut down, visitors stopped coming through Sunachuri, Khage-ndra Malli and Laukhani.

Information officer of the national park Tikaram Paudel said the effect

of the closure of the hotels has been witnessed in a decrease in arrivals this year. Tiger Tops, Temple Tiger, Island Jungle Resort, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Machan Wildlife and

Gaida Wildlife situated inside the park have closed. Only the Narayani Safari is still operating.

European tourists used to come to these areas in large numbers. After the hotels were shut down, the number of European tourists has decreased drastically. Hotel operators in Sauraha said European tourists have been spending their time in Pokhara instead of Chitwan.

“There used to be a flood of visitors when the hotels inside the national park were operational,” said Shankar Sainju, former chairman of the Regional Hotel Association sad. “After the closure of the hotels, their number came down sharply.”

Sauraha is the main entrance to the national park. “High spending tourists used to visit Sauraha when the hotels were running,” said Sainju. “Now, we have lost that opportunity.”

According to him, a higher entry fee also contributed to the decline in arrivals. The national park has increased the entry fee from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500.

However, the national park said that the drop in arrivals was not caused by the hike in the entry fee as it has been increased after 17 years.

source: the kathmandu post,13 June 2013