Bhotekoshi floods cause over NRs 50 billion in tourism damage: Minister

The tourism sector has suffered preliminary losses of more than NRs 50 billion from the floods and landslides in Rasuwa, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Khadkaraj Paudel said Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives’ International Relations and Tourism Committee, Paudel said the estimate includes damage to tourism businesses and infrastructure, as well as the disaster’s potential long-term economic impact.

The floods and landslides damaged 142 hotels, 57 restaurants and 141 vehicles linked to tourism businesses, while several important religious and cultural heritage sites were also affected, according to the minister.

Several trekking routes, including Langtang, Gosainkunda, Parvatikunda and Nathali, have sustained damage, forcing authorities to explore alternative trails, Paudel said.

The ministry is also preparing a plan to develop affected areas as “Climate Heritage” sites. Museums, memorials, parks and other structures could be developed following consultations with stakeholders, he said.

Paudel attributed the growing disaster risks to climate change and called on the international community to provide Nepal with financial assistance and technology to cope with its impacts.

He said Nepal needs modern early-warning systems to monitor risks from glacial lakes and glaciers in the Himalayan region and provide advance alerts. The government will seek international cooperation to introduce such technologies in Nepal, he added.

The minister praised domestic airlines and helicopter operators for their role in rescue and relief operations and thanked hotel operators in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan for providing free accommodation and meals to those affected.

The exact number of foreign tourists missing in the Rasuwa floods will be confirmed after authorities complete their data collection, Paudel said. However, some 583 foreign nationals from more than 30 countries remain missing, according to an update issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority on September 1, along with 164 Nepalis accompanying them.

The government is preparing to establish help desks at Tribhuvan International Airport and other locations to assist affected tourists and their families, with coordination underway among relevant ministries and foreign embassies.

Paudel also stressed the need for effective international communication to prevent the disaster from damaging Nepal’s tourism image. He said Nepal should simultaneously highlight the impacts of climate change and reassure the international community that the country remains safe and open to tourists.

“Natural disasters can happen anywhere in the world. They cannot destroy Nepal’s tourism industry. We are still standing and ready to welcome tourists,” Paudel said.

The government has also decided to mobilise the welfare fund for tourism-sector workers. Paudel said discussions are underway with the Finance Ministry to address possible difficulties with insurance claims involving people missing in the disaster.