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Sauraha tourism hit hard by disturbances

Friday - 02nd March 2007

SAURAHA, CHITWAN, March 2 - The regular string of bandas, strikes and violence has left this tourism dependent town with a sense of doom. Sauraha, which had been on a recovering path after years of conflict and lack of tourists, is again worried.

“The tourists will not feel safe here until there is political stability. The local business has to start awareness programs on the effects of violent activities. Only then can we expect to see some improvement in tourist inflow,” Dr Rudra Prasad Upadhyaya, a local tourism expert, during an interaction program here recently. Upadhyaya also urged the organizers of such demonstrations not to indulge in activities that hamper the tourist arrivals.

Due to its proximity to Chitwan National Park, the area has been a center for tourism activities. Almost everyone in and around Sauraha is now dependent on tourism for a livelihood. But ten years of conflict has taken its toll. During the years of violence lack of foreigners had been somewhat compensated by a marked increase of domestic tourists. But that too has gone down.

This week alone has already seen three calls for bandas by different groups. Similar activities, in other parts of the country, have also left the roads deserted. The few people who ventured to come here have had to return disappointed, leaving the once bustling area empty.

The signing of the peace agreement had injected hope among the locals of this tourist hub. The business community had even started renovating their hotels and lodges which had become run-down. “Everyone was suddenly full of cheer and enthusiasm. Some establishments had even picked up the same pace as before,” a local said. But their optimism was short lived.

Former MP and local politician Jagrit Prasad Bhetwal has expressed grave concern over the impact of the country's situation on domestic tourism. “These days, Nepali tourists are the main source of income here. But just when Nepalis were starting to patronize local hubs, the situation deteriorated. I am frightened that they might stop going out again,” he said, adding that strikers should give ample warning before organizing such activities.

The chairman of Chitwan Tourism Development Committee Jagannath Thapaliya does not expect unruly activities and disturbances to go down. He has urged people from the local level to the central level to open a tourist information center to let people know of such programs. “If the situation does not improve, the much threatened tourism sector will have no option but to shut down,” he said.


Source ekantipur