Gen Z Protests Slash Hotel Bookings During Peak Tourist Season

Political unrest triggered by the Gen Z protests has severely disrupted Nepal’s tourism sector, forcing widespread hotel booking cancellations at the very start of the peak travel season.

Om Pandey, who operates the four-star Landmark hotel chain with six properties in Pokhara, Chitwan, and Bhairahawa, said average occupancy across his hotels has plunged to around 10 percent.

“About 60 percent of our September bookings were canceled after the violence, arson, and vandalism of September 8–9,” Pandey said, noting that some October reservations have also been scrapped. Cancellations came largely from Indian, American, Australian, and German visitors, as well as Nepali travelers planning Dashain holidays.

Tourism entrepreneurs said the unrest—along with attacks on international brands such as Hilton and Hyatt—has sent negative message about Nepal’s security. The Hilton Kathmandu suffered extensive fire damage. Hoteliers stressed that even during the Maoist insurgency, hotels and tourists were rarely targeted.

In Chitwan, where about 200 tourist-standard hotels operate, occupancy has fallen to 10–12 percent, said Pandey, who also heads the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) Chitwan Chapter. Poor road conditions on the Muglin–Narayangadh route have further deterred travelers.

Pokhara, normally bustling with visitors at this time, is similarly quiet. “My hotel’s occupancy is barely 15 percent,” said Bikal Tulachan, executive director of Fair Mount Hotel. “We usually reach 80 percent during the season, but that seems impossible now.” HAN Pokhara Chapter Chair Laxman Subedi reported that most September bookings were canceled and October–November cancellations are mounting, especially from Indian tourists. Pokhara hosts about 1,200 hotels, yet occupancy now hovers around 10 percent.

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has launched a global social-media drive—using hashtags such as #NepalNow, #VisitNepal, and #WeAreInNepalNow—to reassure travelers that the country remains safe. NTB is coordinating with private-sector tourism groups to prevent further declines.

HAN President Binayak Shah emphasized that Nepal remains open. “Tourists who are already here are trekking, visiting temples, and traveling without restriction,” he said. “However, those who booked trips are asking whether Nepal is safe.” Shah noted that most cancellations occurred immediately after the September 8–9 unrest and that conditions have been stabilizing.

To coincide with World Tourism Day on September 27, the government plans to highlight Nepal’s safety and hospitality. “We expect Prime Minister Sushila Karki to convey a strong message of security and welcome to international visitors—something urgently needed now,” Shah added.