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In what could be seen as a relief to the Nepali tourism sector, tourist arrivals in the country in February stood at 73,255. There were fears that the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara in January could affect the arrival of foreign visitors. However, the latest statistics of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) show a growing number of tourists coming to Nepal. According to NTB statistics, 128,329 tourists visited Nepal in the first two months of 2023. The tourist arrival in February this year is the highest in the last three years. Nepal welcomed 19,766 tourists in February 2022 and 9,146 tourists in February 2021. Before the global travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic came into force, 98,190 tourists had come to Nepal in February 2020. With China announcing the reopening of outbound travel for its citizens, there has been growth in the number of Chinese tourists in February. A total of 2,266 Chinese tourists came to Nepal in February compared to 1,426 in January. While the number of Chinese visitors is gradually growing, Nepal received the highest number of tourists from India and the US in February. According to NTB, 18,401 Indian tourists and 7,887 US visitors came to Nepal in February. The country welcomed 4,802 tourists from Thailand, 4,325 from the United Kingdom, 3,246 from South Korea, 2969 from Australia, 2,232 from Myanmar, 2,175 from Sri Lanka, and 2108 from Germany. With the easing of travel restrictions and China reponing outbound travel, Nepali tourism entrepreneurs are pinning high hopes for 2023. NTB on its 24th anniversary announced that it aims to attract at least one million foreign tourists in 2023. In 2022, tourist arrivals reached over 600,000 without any significant contribution from China. Nepal welcomed only 9,595 Chinese tourists in 2022. Tour operators say they are receiving increasing inquiries from major source markets including China of late. While the FITs (free independent travelers) have already started coming to Nepal, group travelers from the northern neighbor are yet to come here. Travel trade entrepreneurs say that a significant contribution of Chinese tourists would be required if Nepal wants to meet the target of one million in 2023. The tour operators expect Nepal to be included in the next list of China's destination countries hopefully as early as possible. However, China has failed to include Nepal in its list of countries where its citizens can travel starting from February 6. China has included 20 countries in the first phase where Chinese travelers can travel. The northern neighbor included Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Fiji, Cuba, and Argentina as an outbound destination for Chinese citizens to travel as the pilot destinations. Besides China opening the door for its citizens to visit Nepal, their arrivals will also depend on how quickly flights between the two countries are normalized, according to tour operators. Himalaya Airlines has recently resumed its Kathmandu-Beijing direct flight after a hiatus of 32 months. Tourist Arrivals

With the Covid-19 pandemic no longer being considered a major health concern at the moment, government spending on the control and prevention of the disease has slumped this fiscal year. During the first six months of the current fiscal year, the government spent Rs 700,000 for the prevention, control, and treatment of Covid-19, according to the mid-term review of the budget of the current fiscal year. The government had allocated Rs 15.47bn for the purpose in FY 2022/23. “Even though there has not been fresh spending from the dedicated budget for Covid-19, many activities are underway against Covid-19 through the regular health budget too,” said a senior official of the Department of Health Services. “Nevertheless, low spending of dedicated budget shows that Covid-19 is more or less under control. But it has not been eliminated yet.” Even though the government spent a lot of money on purchasing vaccines last fiscal year, it is now receiving the Covid vaccines free of cost under COVAX, a global initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid vaccines. According to the report, the government had spent Rs 22.21bn for the purpose in the last FY 2021/22 against the allocation of Rs 38.96bn. Spending in the fiscal year 2020/21 was Rs 12.56bn while it was Rs 2.6bn in FY 2019/20 when the pandemic began. The country spent a total of Rs 37.38bn for controlling Covid since the beginning. This spending however does not cover spending for social safety and welfare and economic recovery programs. The country spent even more on social safety and welfare and economic recovery to address the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report published by the Ministry of Finance, the government had spent Rs 72.93bn for health care, social safety, and economic recovery programs by mid-January 2022. Only Rs 30.35bn was spent on health care related to Covid while the rest of the amount was spent on social safety and economic recovery, according to the Program Completion Report of the Covid-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program. As a result of the pandemic, the country’s economy suffered a negative growth of over two percent in FY 2020/21. Official statistics show more than 12,000 people have lost their lives in Nepal due to the pandemic.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 102, 600 per tola today. The gold was traded at Rs 102, 300 per tola on Wednesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 102, 100 per tola. It was traded at Rs 101, 800 per tola. Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,270 per tola today.

The Chandragiri Hills, which carries a historic and religious importance, has been the main attraction to both domestic and foreign tourists lately. Situated southwest of Kathmandu, the federal capital of the country, seven kilometers away from Thankot, Kathmandu, the tourist destination serves as a perfect fit for touristic, religious and recreational activities, also making an ideal spot for those who want to take a rest and enjoy away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The 2,551 meters-high natural heaven is surrounded by the wilderness with the eye-catching views of the Himalaya Mountain ranges in the background. A majestic view of Mount Everest, and the Kathmandu Valley, neighbouring Dhading, Nuwakot and Makawanpur districts is something that will entice people and tourists alike. Apart from being a major choice for the people who want to organise any meeting, seminar, assembly and any musical programs, it also serves as a stop for those visiting the Kathmandu Valley for recreational activities like a cable car ride, and for those who are keen in religion and history for research and a study. Besides, the area is also home to one of the most important Hindu temples, the Bhaleshwor Mahadev, which is believed to possess wish-granting powers. It has its historical significance as well. Going by a history, Prithvi Narayan Shah, King from the Shah dynasty, a unifier of the modern Nepal took a first glimpse of the present Kathmandu Valley (then known as Nepal Khalto), which in fact instilled in his mind an idea to annex the Valley into his kingdom. He is also believed to have got spiritual powers for the unification process after undergoing a 'sadhana' (meditation) here. He is told of having disguised himself while ascending the hills so as to avoid being recognized by the Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley. So, in his honor, his statue has been erected in the hills. The statue has been a main attraction to anyone visiting here. Visiting people pose with it for a photograph. Bhaleshwor Temple, the statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah, ziplines, a Children Park, a horse ride, the Chandragiri Hills resort, and shopping marts are among other attractions to the hills. It is believed that the Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple was built here after the incarnation of God Mahadev manifested. The temple has received an increasing number of pilgrims from home and neighboring India. A cable car network is a new addition to the beauty of the hills. Constructed by the Chandragiri Hills Limited, the cable car came into operation commercially on 16 December, 2016. Following this, inflow of tourists, domestic and foreign, has been high, said the Chandragiri Hills finance chief Binayak Pokharel. One of the options for tourists to reach the hills is a trekking route. The trekking route leading to the hills has been in existence since long, and tourists visiting the hills still take this route, he said. The cable car is operational seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. Over 71,100 tourists took a cable car ride in a single one month (mid-December, 2022 to mid-January, 2023), he said. It charges Rs 799 for a Nepali citizen for a round trip, and Rs 600 for a Nepali student. Similarly, USD 22 is charged for a foreign citizen. Manufactured by Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, an international manufacturer of ropeways and people movers for ski areas, urban transport, amusement parks, and material handling systems based in Austria, the cable car is a gondola lift transportation system. The 2.46 km line runs from Thankot to the Chandragiri Hills. It has two stations consisting of 38 gondolas that can carry 1,000 people per hour. It also has three gondolas that carry goods. Each gondola carries eight persons at a time. In general, it takes 9 to 14 minutes to reach the top of the hills from the Thankot station. Over 2,000 people took a cable car ride on a regular day, and the figure rose to 4,500 and 5,000 on a holiday. The hills received a total of 507,411 domestic tourists, and 63,344 foreign tourists including from the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries in the previous fiscal year, 2021/22, Pokharel said. There are two ziplines (100 meters and 200 meters) in operation, thus contributing to attracting an increasing number of tourists, he said. A 100 meters zipline was constructed at the cost of Rs 7 million. The zipline aims to attract both domestic and foreign tourists alike, said the Chandragiri Hills General Manager Sanjib Thapa. The 100 meters zipline spans from near the Bhaleshwor Temple to the children park. It charges Rs 400 each person for a 100 meters zipline ride, and Rs 800 for a 200 meters ride. It aims to develop the hill as an 'integrated tourist destination' and deliver superior product and services by empowering our customers, stakeholders and society as a whole, said Thapa. "We have built various physical infrastructures with the policy of promoting domestic and foreign tourism," he said. However, the global COVID-19 pandemic did not spare the cable car service as well. The number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, visiting the hills sharply dropped during the years when the virus took its toll, he said. But this year when the infection has almost subsided, there is a silver lining for the company. The inflow of tourists has been gradually on track, he said. The hills also run a resort here. The resort has served as a spot for tourists who want to take rest and let go of their tiredness away from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. It has also managed halls for organizing national and international seminars, meetings, conferences and gatherings, he said, adding that the country's governmental and non-governmental organizations held programs here.