POKHARA: Pokhara, the country’s tourism capital, has seen a positive impact on its tourism sector after the government introduced two-day public holidays on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the Hotel Association Pokhara, hotel occupancy in the city has increased by around 10 percent compared to previous periods.

Association President Laxman Subedi said that domestic tourist arrivals have noticeably risen, with hotels operating about 10 percent above their usual capacity during this period.

“Generally, due to the two-day holiday, domestic tourists spend two days in Pokhara before returning,” he said. “This has significantly helped make Pokhara’s tourism more dynamic.”

Tourists visiting Pokhara are engaging in sightseeing around Phewa Lake and other lakes in the Lekhnath area, as well as enjoying water-based recreation and adventure tourism activities such as paragliding, bungee jumping, and ziplining.

They are also visiting religious and tourist sites including Bindhyabasini Temple, Tal Barahi Temple, Pumdikot, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, and the World Peace Pagoda. In addition, attractions such as the International Mountain Museum, Mahendra Cave, Bat Cave, and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave remain popular among visitors.

Subedi said the association had previously advocated for a two-day holiday to promote domestic tourism, adding that the policy has benefited not only Pokhara but the country’s tourism sector as a whole.

He noted that Pokhara’s main tourist seasons include the period from mid-February to mid-May, as well as September, October, and November.

Currently, hotel occupancy in the city stands at around 60 percent.

He also said that out of the total investment of around Rs 800 billion in Pokhara’s tourism sector, about Rs 600 billion has been invested in hotels alone.

There are around 1,200 hotels in Pokhara, which together can accommodate up to 40,000 tourists per day.