NEPALGUNJ, Feb 18: Local hoteliers have announced five to 15 percent discount on accommodation and food for both domestic and foreign tourists to boost tourism in the district.
Bhaskar Kafle, president of Hotel Association Nepalgunj, said hoteliers have decided to offer a discount of 15 percent and five percent for lodging and food respectively.
“Hotelier began providing discount to their guest from Saturday,” said Kafle. He said the discount offer will last the year round.
There are around 400 hotels and 100 restaurants operating in Nepalgunj.
Tourism entrepreneurs had come up with the scheme to boost local tourism which has not yet taken momentum though more than one and a half month has already passed since the beginning of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 which has targeted to bring in over one million foreign tourists.
Though government officials are hopeful about meeting the target, local tourism entrepreneurs do not expect a significant footfall of tourists during the tourism year.
Accommodation charges set at the hotels in Nepalgunj range from Rs 500 to Rs 4,500 per night depending on the services available in the hotels.
Most of the tourists making night stay in Nepalgunj tend to visit Swagadwari of Pyuthan, Thakurdwara of Bardiya and Kailash Mansarobar.
Thakurdwara, Mansarobar and Swargadwari are popular among Indian tourists. Tourism entrepreneurs said proximity to New Delhi and Lucknow has turned advantageous for tourism entrepreneurs in mid-western and far-western parts of the country, including Rara Lake, Shey Phoksundo Lake and Khaptad National Park.
Hotel entrepreneurs said at least 30,000 tourists have been visiting Nepalgunj every year.
