April 16: With the beginning of New Year 2080, hotels in Pokhara are almost filled with tourists.    
The occupancy of the hotels in Pokhara and its surrounding areas is more than 90 per cent which has added excitement among the tourism entrepreneurs, said President of Hotel Association Pokhara, Laxman Subedi.    
The tourism industry, which was hit hard due to the coronavirus pandemic, was adversely affected after Yeti Airlines plane crash on January 15. Stating that around 1,200 big and small hotels are in operation in Pokhara and its surrounding areas, Subedi said they are excited with the increase in the inflow of tourists with the beginning of the New Year.    
"Cent percent hotels operated in Lakeside are filled with tourists. Not only Lakeside, the occupancy of hotels in Pokhara and its surrounding areas is more than 90 per cent," he added.     
Proprietor of Hotel Asia, Dharma Raj Panthi mentioned that it was difficult to get room in hotels in Lakeside area on April 13 and 14 due to large number of tourists.    
Tourism entrepreneurs opined that the number of domestic tourists is increasing in Pokhara every year due to the Fewa New Year Festival organised here targeting the Nepali New Year. -- RSS