Hotels Provide Jobs to 60,000 People in Lumbini Province

RANJHA, August 14: The hotel sector in Lumbini Province has provided direct employment to 60,000 people.

According to Bhaskar Kafle, founding chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs' Association in Lumbini Province, around 11,000 hotel entrepreneurs have created these jobs across the province's 12 districts.

This sector has attracted an investment of approximately Rs 200 billion. "The private sector has entirely invested around Rs 200 billion in hotels," Kafle said, adding that the state earns nearly Rs 400 million in annual revenue from this sector.

However, Kafle mentioned that entrepreneurs running small to mid-scale hotels, as well as star hotels, are facing tough times due to the lack of dynamic tourism in recent times. He suggested that the state could consider relief packages for the hotel industry to help it gradually recover.

Similarly, Mahendra Shrestha, chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Federation in Lumbini Province, emphasized that promoting tourism would help boost the hotel business.

He also shared plans to name hotel rooms after local heritage and culture. Shrestha expressed the need for the state to create a positive environment for the hotel and hospitality sector.

"Once the government implements policies that are friendly to the hotel and tourism business, it will help stimulate these sectors, thereby generating more jobs," he stated, adding that they are drawing the attention of all three tiers of government to this matter. -- RSS