Kathmandu, Sept 12: The glacial flood that surged from Tibet through the Bhotekoshi into the Trishuli River has caused an estimated Rs 52.13 billion in damage to the tourism sector in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Gorkha.
A preliminary assessment by the Bhotekoshi Glacial Flood Damage Assessment Committee, formed by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, estimates total tourism losses at Rs 52.1365765 billion.
The assessment covers damage caused after a landslide carrying rocks and debris fell into a glacial lake, triggering a high-speed destructive flood.
According to the report, hotels along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers suffered Rs 19.56 billion in damage. Data from the Hotel Entrepreneurs Federation show that 207 hotels and restaurants were damaged.
The assessment estimates losses of Rs 1.38 billion in restaurants, Rs 1.51 billion in vehicles, Rs 50 million in trekking trails, Rs 1.12 billion in heritage sites and tourism infrastructure, and Rs 155 million at rafting and camping sites.
Flood affected hotels and restaurants are estimated to have lost Rs 14.60 billion in income from foreign tourists. Commercial activity in the Langtang area suffered another Rs 1.27 billion in losses, while domestic tourism income fell by Rs 198.7 million.
The report also estimates an additional Rs 12.26 billion in costs related to supporting affected families and managing the workforce, bringing total direct tourism losses to Rs 52.1365765 billion.
Committee coordinator Sahadev Dhamala, a board member of the Nepal Tourism Board, said officials from the ministry and Tourism Board were conducting field assessments to determine the actual extent of the damage.
He said the Tourism Board, private sector and ministry officials were working together on relief, recovery and reconstruction while trying to project a positive message about Nepal’s tourism sector.
Dhamala also urged stakeholders to avoid negative commentary that could further hurt the tourism industry, saying coordination between the government and private sector had accelerated recovery efforts.
Hotel Association Nepal President Binayak Shah said the preliminary report was prepared through a joint effort by government and private sector stakeholders. The association had deployed representatives to assist with the field assessment, he said.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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