Foreign tourist stranded in Nepal
Update: 29 March 2020
The ‘Crisis Communication Unit’, of the Nepal Tourism Board(NTB), is successful in bringing 158 tourists stranded in Nepal – Lukla that includes international and domestic tourists, Nepalese guides, and porters to Kathmandu on 29th March 2020. 56 of them were brought via Tara Air, 51 from Summit Air, and 51 from Sita Air. The flights were operated in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CAAN), U.S. Embassy, British Embassy, Embassy of Russia, local government bodies, airlines, and tourist police.
Likewise, out of 133 tourists rescued from Pokhara today, 68 were British, 44 American, and 21 South Korean nationals. As of March 29, a total of 1,255 travelers within the country has been rescued. The rescue team has given top priority to following the health and safety guidelines set by the government during all rescue operations.
Also, to comply with the lockdown rules set by the government, all vehicle services related to the rescue of international tourists have been suspended for now. The rescue in the future will be scheduled as per requirement upon the confirmation of the next outbound flights and as per special request of diplomatic missions only. Source: Nepal Tourism Board
Update: 25 March 2020
Current Situation of tourist stranded in Nepal
Currently, at least 234 foreign tourists are in Nepal. Amid the main tourist season, Nepal Government is compelled to announce the lockdown throughout the country. There were few tourists stranded in different trekking destinations, as spring is the main season to trek Nepal. The foreign tourists were hiking different trekking trails when the Nepal government announced lockdown to respond to the rapid outbreak of COVID 19, Coronavirus.
Like other countries of the world, the Nepal government imposes lockdown throughout the country. In the first phase, Nepal has announced the lockdown for a week.
Since the number of stranded tourists is low, there is no shortage of accommodation available. However, the situation cannot be the same in the few days to come. Some of these tourists won’t be in any position to pay for accommodation or meal for say the next week when they were expecting to be only here for a couple of days.
Nepal Tourism Board along with the private sectors is initiating picking up the tab to look after some of these stranded visitors.
As per the updated information received from Nepal Tourism Board on 25 March 2020
Currently, there are 96 foreigners in Lukla of the Everest Region. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality varifies the number of stranded tourists. They are staying in a different hotel at Lukla. Among them, tourist police verify that two of them are from Ukraine.
Three Finish citizens are stranded in the Langtang area. They have just arrived after Langtang Valley Trek and are now staying at Syabrubensi.
There are four Dutch tourists blocked in the Late Mustang District. Since it is a peak trekking season there are 29-30 tourists stranded in different hotels Annapurna Base Camp trekking route. They were hiking back to Pokhara from the Base Camp. Now, they all have arrived at Ghandruk Village.
Now, it seems that the Mustang area is holding more foreigners concerning other regions. There are 40-50 foreigners stuck at Jomsom. They have been staying in different hotels in Jomsom. Similarly, 18 people are staying in the Muktinath area.
One Italian Doctor Ginamarco Polito is in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
Six foreign tourists were hiking in the Manaslu circuit trek and are recently arrived at Arughat and Mahhakhola of Gorkha. They are accompanied by 6 more Nepali workers. So, the number is 12 in Arughat and Machhakhola. There are altogether 7 foreigners at Gorkha bazaar including 3 Australian and 2 Spanish citizens. District Administrative Office, Gorkha verifies the data.
There are a total of 19 people stuck in Sankhuwasabha including 8 foreigners, as per the Makalubarun National Parks.
Updates 26 March 2020:
- Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality has arranged free meals (three meals a day) at Lukla. The stranded tourist can have the meals free of cost.
- Restaurant & Bar Association (REBAN) has arranged free meals for stranded tourists in Kathmandu