January 2: The hotels from Nagarkot, a major tourist destination in Bhaktapur, to Ranikot were full of domestic tourists on the first day of New Year 2023.

Hoteliers, who have suffered losses for almost three years due to Covid-19, are excited about the increase in number of domestic tourists.

Hotels in Nagarkot were full of locals and foreign tourists coming to see the first sunrise of 2023. A large number of tourists came to Nagarkot to watch the sunrise and the Himalayan range after staying overnight on Saturday evening. Tourism and hotel entrepreneur Ashok Thapa said that the tourism business of Nagarkot has declined due to Covid-19 and the dilapidated road condition.

Thapa, who is also the owner of Nagarkot Base Camp Resort, said, "Though the number of foreign tourists has decreased, the number of domestic tourists has increased significantly.

Gokul Lamichhane, the owner of Hotel Marigold, Nagarkot, said that the hotels in Nagarkot are now full of domestic tourists rather than foreigners.

He said the current influx of domestic tourists has raised a lot of hope.

The owner of Hotel Chawtari, Nagarkot said that the business affected by the earthquake and Covid-19 have observed positive signs with the arrival of domestic tourists. 

Padmalal Shrestha from Baneswar, Kathmandu, who was returning from Nagarkot, said that he had booked a hotel room a week in advance. He said that 11 people, including his family and relatives, went to Nagarkot on Saturday and returned on Sunday.

Dhan Bahadur Lama, ward chairman of Changunarayan Municipality-6 and former secretary of Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Business Association, said that there is an influx of domestic tourists in Nagarkot to welcome the New Year 2023. 

On Saturday, hotels had full occupancy while some people did not get a room, he said on Sunday.

Jeevan Khatri, the mayor of Changunarayan Municipality, informed that the municipality will celebrate Nagarkot visit year in 2082, targeting internal and external tourists.

According to the data provided by the Nepal Tourism Board, 614,148 foreign tourists visited Nepal in the past year. It is 39.75 % more than in 2021 and 166.92 % more than in 2020.