March 15: The tourism business of Pokhara, the second largest tourist city in the country, has not yet returned to normalcy. The tourism sector in Pokhara has not been able to pick up pace even though the economy affected by Covid-19 is moving towards normalization.
Although the number of domestic tourists has increased in Pokhara, foreign tourists have not been able to visit Nepal. This has affected all kinds of tourism businesses in Pokhara. The shortage of foreign tourists has affected hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies, especially those targeting foreign tourists. Even locally-made clothings and handicraft businesses have been affected.
Gupta Giri, residential manager of Shangrila Village Resort, Pokhara, informed that the tourism business is still in a state of zero. Except some Indian tourists who come via air after conducting PCR tests, the hotel is almost deserted throughout the year, he informed. He said that hotels and restaurants won't be profitable unless the number of foreign tourists increases.
He suggested that the government should make arrangements for Indian tourists to visit Nepal with on their vehicles after conducting PCR tests at the border point. Tourism entrepreneurs are also demanding to let vaccinated foreigners enter the country. 
According to government statistics, between 1 million to 1.5 million people lost their jobs in the tourism sector of Nepal due to Covid-19.
According to traders, the business has declined by up to 50 percent in Pokhara due to lack of foreign tourists in Fewatal, Lakeside, Gupteswar Cave, Patle Chhango, Vindhyavasini, and other areas.
Saru Pokharel, who trades in Nepali handicrafts outside Patle Chhango, informed that foreigners have not returned to buy goods since the market reopened after the lockdown. "Such items used to be bought by foreign tourists rather than Nepalis. Now, foreigners have not come," she said.
Similarly, only 30 percent of the buses carrying tourists have found work due to a lack of foreign tourists. According to Trithunga Travel Agency Pokhara, the buses carrying tourists aren't able to operate due to a lack of tourists from third countries. The company said that 40 drivers lost their jobs due to the non-operation of the buses.