Santosh Pokharel

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Promotional initiatives underway to bring in one million foreign tourists

Published On: June 11, 2023 12:22 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, June 11: Through the annual budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24, the government announced the goal of increasing the number of foreign tourists entering Nepal to one million in 2023. While stating that the year 2023-2032 will be celebrated as the 'Tourism Decade', Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat  announced the target of bringing 1 million foreign tourists in 2023.

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Pokhara records highest temperature after 1999

Published On: June 11, 2023 10:30 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, June 11: Pokhara did not experience the scorching heat in this season last year as there was heavy rain in the evening. When it rained every day in the evening, ordinary people perceived Pokhara as a cool city. Even though there was a scorching heat in the afternoon, they experienced relief when it rained in the evening.

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Pokhara tourism entrepreneurs doubt implementation of policies and programs due to lack of budget allocation

Published On: May 21, 2023 01:30 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, May 21: The government has announced that 2080 BS will mark the beginning of 'Nepal Tourism Decade' and 2025 as 'Special Tourism Year'. Presenting the policies and programs for the upcoming financial year, President Ram Chandra Paudel announced the Nepal Tourism Decade and Special Tourism Year.

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Heavily-invested hotel industry of Pokhara left in the lurch as international flights seems a pipe dream

Published On: May 10, 2023 07:15 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, May 10: Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) has been operational for four months now. The tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara were hopeful of the operation of international flights from Pokhara from the very first day (January 1, 2023) when the international airport came into operation.

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Pokhara International Airport reopens after three days

Published On: April 16, 2023 08:00 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, April 16: Pokhara International Airport, which has been closed since Friday, opened only at 2.30 pm on Sunday. Flights to and from Pokhara had been affected since Thursday evening due to heavy fog.

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Air pollution: Poor visibility affects flights from Pokhara International Airport

Published On: April 14, 2023 07:30 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, April 14: Major cities are currently experiencing high levels of air pollution, particularly in areas such as Pokhara and the capital city, Kathmandu. This pollution has become so severe that it is now impacting the visibility for flights at the Pokhara Regional International Airport. As a result, no aircraft were able to land at the airport until 3:30 PM on Friday afternoon.

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Princess of Qatar takes paragliding training in Syangja

Published On: March 29, 2023 09:00 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, March 29: Many tourists who arrive in Pokhara do not miss an opportunity for paragliding. Some foreign tourists even come to Pokhara for paragliding training. Among them, a high-profile guest, Princess Asma Al Thani of Qatar, also took paragliding training in Syangja a few days ago.

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Tourism sector in trouble as occupancy rate of hotels in Pokhara stands 20 percent despite peak tourist season

Published On: March 27, 2023 10:00 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, March 27: This time of the year is the main season for tourists from third countries. The occupancy ratio of hotels in Pokhara should be at least 80 percent. But as the hotel occupancy rate is only 20 percent, leaving tourism entrepreneurs here highly worried about the fate of their business.

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Is paragliding dying a slow death in Pokhara?

Published On: March 23, 2023 05:00 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

KATHMANDU, March 23: After the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) came into operation; commercial paragliding that had been taking place in the sky of Sarangkot was transferred to Mandre Dhunga, about five kilometers west of Sarangkot. During the tourist season, the paragliding area used to be very busy with one after another flight in the sky of Sarangkot, but the adventure activity has not gained the expected momentum in Mandre Dhunga, according to tourism entrepreneurs.

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Minor arrested for sexual abuse following social media outrage

Published On: March 19, 2023 05:50 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, March 19:  A 16-year-old boy has been arrested by the police following a viral video on social media accusing him of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

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Paragliding to begin in Chitwan soon

Published On: March 3, 2023 05:25 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, March 3: Chitwan's Sauraha Jungle Safari is a popular tourist spot where visitors hope to catch glimpses of wild animals while on a jungle safari. The area is equipped with the necessary infrastructure to accommodate tourists. Tourists can now experience aerial activities in the Chitwan sky, as paragliding has been introduced to attract tourists.

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Pokhara int’l airport:  Night flights from tomorrow

Published On: February 22, 2023 05:00 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 22: The Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) is getting ready for night flights from Thursday. Until now, flights are being operated only during the day time, but now the runway will be opened for night flights as well. Airlines have also started making necessary preparations for night flights.

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Birds pose a serious risk to flights in the skies of Pokhara

Published On: February 22, 2023 02:00 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 22: His real name is Ishwar KC, but on social media, his name is 'Ishu Bro'. A video shot by KC on Monday afternoon is now viral on social media. The video is related to the air hazard caused by birds in Pokhara.

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Struggling to overcome pandemic and plane crash effects, Pokhara records unexpectedly low bookings in major tourist season

Published On: February 19, 2023 05:30 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 19: The tourist season in Nepal is now underway, with February through April considered the second peak season in the tourism sector. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign visitors to Pokhara typically increased during this time. Tourism entrepreneurs regarded the period after February 15th as the main season, and were pleased when guests made advance bookings. However, this year, entrepreneurs are feeling disheartened due to low advance bookings for hotels.

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Foxes and birds pose risk to aircraft at PRIA

Published On: February 14, 2023 09:00 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 14: Bijayapur River is located in the east of the Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA). To the south lies the Seti River. The Bijaypur River is closer to the runway. As soon as the aircraft, which is in the process of landing, crosses the river, it reaches the runway.

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Nepali tourism entrepreneurs write to Chinese embassy to open Nepal for Chinese tourists

Published On: February 10, 2023 10:30 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 10: The Nepali tourism industry had been making good profits from the tourists arriving in the country from its two immediate neighbors India and China. Until a few years ago, the tourism entrepreneurs were quite happy as enough tourists would come from India and China and the addition of domestic tourists and visitors from other countries would ensure enough income for them. The entrepreneurs would be even happier as the tourists from India and China would die to visit Pokhara.

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Pokhara-Mugling road expansion progressed only 10 percent in two years, falling short of its target completion date of Aug 2024

Published On: February 9, 2023 08:37 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 9: The Pokhara-Mugling section of the Prithvi Highway is currently undergoing expansion, with the road from Pokhara to Abukhaireni being widened.

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Night flights to and from Pokhara Int’l Airport to begin from February 23

Published On: February 9, 2023 10:30 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Feb 9: Night flights will be possible at Pokhara Regional International Airport from February 23 onwards. This new airport has been operational since January 1. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said that this airport, which is currently operating only during the day time, can be operated at night after February 23.

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Waiver of ten percent service charge less likely to bring down price

Published On: January 30, 2023 09:35 AM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Jan 30: The Supreme Court ruled last Wednesday that hotels and restaurants cannot collect 10 percent service charge from customers. After this decision, consumers are hoping that it will be cheaper to go to hotels, restaurants and take any service at an affordable rate. However, it is not likely to be cheaper as expected by consumers.

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Two injured as a man tries to self-immolate in Pokhara, woman's condition critical

Published On: January 29, 2023 04:09 PM NPT By: Santosh Pokharel

POKHARA, Jan 29: In Pokhara Metropolitan City-13, Kahukhola, two individuals, a man and a woman, suffered severe injuries after the man attempted self-immolation and the woman tried to save him. The police rescued them and transported them to the hospital for treatment.

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