Nepal’s most violent protests in decades broke out just as the country entered its busiest tourist season, hitting businesses that had been preparing to host trekkers from around the world on its renowned Himalayan trails. In Kathmandu’s Thamel district — a popular tourist hub filled with shops, pubs, and restaurants — businesses stood largely empty even after reopening, following a deadly anti-corruption protest that left 72 people dead, injured more than 2,000, and forced former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli to step down.

According to Nepal’s tourism board, hoteliers, and trekking companies, visitor numbers have fallen by 30% compared with last year, with many bookings cancelled. “I am just sitting idle, there are no tourists. Many groups cancelled in September,” said Ram Chandra Giri, 49, who runs trekking expeditions and a Japanese restaurant. He reported that about 35% of his customers cancelled. Hotel owner Renu Baniya said all reservations for the coming month had been scrapped.

The unrest has also prompted several countries to advise their citizens against non-essential travel, especially after dramatic scenes of a burning parliament and the Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Nepal normally attracts 1.2 million tourists annually, with the sector contributing nearly 8% of GDP, and September to December marking the peak season. Its trekking routes, including the Everest Base Camp, are a major draw for adventurers.

Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, acknowledged that damage to government offices and hotels could discourage not only visitors but also investors. He said arrivals are down 30% and recent cancellation rates have been 8–10%. Although parts of Kathmandu still bear the smell of smoke and debris from burnt buildings and vehicles, calm has returned under interim prime minister Sushila Karki. Authorities and business owners remain cautiously optimistic that tourists will return, though political uncertainty persists ahead of elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.

“We must be transparent in communication — if the situation is unstable, the industry cannot just say ‘visit us,’” Joshi added. Some visitors who stayed through the unrest said they felt safe. “Our family and friends asked us to return, but we never felt insecure,” said Franz, a 55-year-old tourist from Germany.