Rain and snow in peak season slow tourism business in Pokhara

Rain and snowfall have reduced activity in Pokhara and other tourist areas of Gandaki province during the peak tourist season.

The adverse weather, which began on Friday, has affected trekking just as tourist numbers were rising after Dashain. According to Krishna Prasad Acharya, outgoing chairman of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal, Gandaki, some tourists have cancelled their trips as the weather turned bad during what is otherwise the best season for trekking.

He said trekking should be halted only in specific areas based on risk assessment. Imposing a blanket halt everywhere, he said, sends out the message that Nepal's trekking routes are unsafe. Local administration and other bodies had already issued public notices a few days earlier advising tourists not to go trekking.

Dr. Ravin Kadariya, chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, said tourist activity in the Annapurna region has slowed in recent days due to the weather.