main_image
NEWS
bottom
bottom

Investment pouring into hotels in Ilam

Illam: Tul Bahadur Dewan, a retired British Army personal, is busy constructing a hotel, which he plans to develop it as a “model” in the region.

The hotel, being built with an investment of Rs 80 million, is in final stages of completion. The developer plans to bring it into operation from mid-April 2014.

Based at Fikkal, the hotel will have several indoor games, a seminar hall and a library, among others. “I want to cash in on the Ilam’s tourism potential,” Dewan said. “Since there are no hotels with ample facilities, I am excited with the project.”

Green View Hotel too is developing a new hotel in Illam. Green View promoter Kedar Shapkota said the estimated cost of the hotel is Rs 80 million. Located near to a tea-garden, the hotel is also eyeing tourists.

Sherpa Chyalet Hotel in Sandakpur, Illam, has added rooms amid rising tourist arrivals. Located 3,626 metres above the sea level, the hotel is increasing investment despite not having facilities such as electricity, water and communication, among others.

Promoter Pasang Temba Sherpa said he is increasing investment amid rising arrivals from West Bengal, India. Also, outbound Nepali tourists are increasingly using the Sandakpur route, he added.

The area from Mane Bhanjyang to Sandakpur currently features around half a dozen hotels , primarily targeted at tourists. And, many of them are busy adding facilities.

At the district headquarters, construction of buildings with a motive to develop them as hotels and lodges in the bus park area is on the rise. Existing hotels in the area, including Tamu

Hotel, New Pokhreli, Illam Park, New Delux and Gajurmukhi, among others, are also upgrading rooms and facilities.

Hotels based in Kanyam, Pashupati Nagar, Fikkal, Naya Bazaar, Mai Pokhari and Mangalbare too are on an expansion spree. “Increasing number of tourists has intensified competition among hoteliers to offer better facilities,” said Rajan Pradhan, operator of Dovan Hotel. Other factors prompting hoteliers to up investment are increasing publicity of Ilam as a tourist destination and the beginning of the construction of an airport in Sukilumba.

“Hoteliers are increasing investment. It’s a welcome move,” said Tikaram Odari, president of the Hotel Entrepreneurs’ Association and operator of Kanyam-based Kanyam-In Hotel. Odari, who left a lucrative job in Qatar to start a hotel business, said there are around 315 hotels in the district.

The district sees increase in tourist arrivals, mostly students for excursions, during the winter season.

Attractive scenic spots, traditional culture of the Lepcha community, improved lifestyle of local communities due to agriculture, commercial flower cultivation and dazzling tea estates have established the district as a good tourist destination.

source: the kathmandu post,29 Dec 2013