CHITWAN: Hotels and resorts across Chitwan’s key tourism hubs—Sauraha, Bharatpur, and nearby Gaindakot—are witnessing unusually high occupancy as the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) holds its first general convention in Bharatpur.

Normally considered the monsoon off-season, mid-June to August usually sees hotels cutting staff due to low tourist arrivals. This year, however, the situation has reversed, with many properties reporting full or near-full occupancy, resembling peak tourist season demand.

According to the Hotel Association Chitwan, the influx includes delegates, party leaders, observers, media personnel, and supporters arriving for the convention. A total of 4,211 delegates are officially registered, while organizers estimate overall arrivals could reach around 10,000, including families who have accompanied participants due to self-funded travel arrangements.

Hotel Association officials say occupancy rates have more than doubled compared to the same period in previous years, rising from around 40 percent to over 80 percent, with many premium hotels already fully booked.

The impact is being felt across the region. In Sauraha, home to around 150 hotels with a combined capacity of 7,000 guests, nearly all rooms are occupied. In Bharatpur, major venues such as Bharatpur Garden Resort and Diyalo Foodland have been booked out for days, while the spillover has extended across the Narayani River to Gaindakot, where properties report full occupancy for the past several days.

Hoteliers say the sudden surge has provided significant relief during the traditionally slow season, boosting restaurants, transport services, and small businesses. Many attendees are also dining outside official arrangements, further increasing local economic activity.

Industry stakeholders view the development as a strong example of how large political events can temporarily drive tourism-style demand in the region.