Nepal, usually buzzing with tourists during the autumn season, has fallen eerily quiet after a wave of mass protests led by Generation Z spiraled into widespread unrest, shaking the nation’s economic, political, and social stability.
Popular destinations such as Thamel, Durbar Square, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, and Chitwan now stand deserted, with hotels burned, vehicles torched, and businesses shuttered. The anti-government demonstrations have scared away both foreign tourists and international investors.
Local economists estimate losses of up to 3 trillion rupees (RM89.4 billion), nearly half of the country’s GDP.
Major corporations have also been hit hard. Retail giant Bhat-Bhateni reported that 21 out of its 28 branches were severely damaged, with insurance claims exceeding 2.5 billion rupees (RM74.5 million). Chaudhary Group and telecom operator Ncell likewise suffered extensive destruction from attacks and fires.
The hospitality sector alone has lost nearly 25 billion rupees (RM745 million), while the automotive trade faces losses of around 15 billion rupees (RM447 million).
According to the Hotel Association of Nepal, more than two dozen hotels in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Bhairahawa, and other cities have been destroyed. The devastation has left about 2,000 workers jobless, with property damage to hotels alone estimated at over 8 billion rupees (RM238 million).
Despite the turmoil, industry leaders and local entrepreneurs have vowed to rebuild.
“History will not remember the flames, but how we rise together from them,” said Chaudhary Group managing director Nirvana Chaudhary.
