Nepal’s Tourism Wheel Slows Down: Belahiya Customs Falls Silent as Foreign and Indian Tourist Arrivals Hit a Low

Belahiya/Sunauli | Monday Edition

A sharp decline in the number of tourists entering Nepal through the Belahiya–Sunauli border, one of the busiest gateways between India and Nepal, has raised concerns for the country’s tourism industry. Once bustling with travelers, the border crossing now appears unusually quiet, affecting hotels, travel agencies, taxi operators, restaurants, and businesses in the border region.

Local traders say that until recently, thousands of Indian tourists crossed the border every day to visit popular destinations such as Lumbini, Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, and other tourist attractions. However, the number of visitors has dropped significantly in recent weeks. According to them, stricter customs procedures, enhanced security checks, mandatory identification requirements, and travel-related inconveniences have discouraged many travelers.

Business owners estimate that earlier around 1,500 to 1,800 Indian tourist vehicles entered Nepal daily. That number has now fallen to approximately 300 to 350 vehicles per day, dealing a severe blow to markets and businesses dependent on tourism.

People associated with the tourism sector also believe that viral social media videos allegedly showing incidents of mistreatment of Indian tourists have made many travelers more cautious about visiting Nepal. While the overall impact and exact reasons may vary, many Indian tourists are reportedly choosing alternative destinations such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and the northeastern states of India instead.

Economic experts in Nepal point out that India has traditionally been Nepal’s largest source of international tourists. They warn that unless visitors receive a safe, convenient, and respectful travel experience and border procedures are made more tourist-friendly, Nepal’s tourism industry could face significant economic losses in the coming months.

Border traders and tourism entrepreneurs have urged the governments of both India and Nepal to improve travel facilities, minimize unnecessary inconvenience at the border, and take concrete measures to restore tourist confidence and revive cross-border tourism.