(Image source from: Etvbharat.com)

Nepal's hospitality sector, which is crucial for the nation's tourism-based economy, has faced a setback of over 25 billion Nepalese rupees following significant destruction to around twenty hotels across the nation during recent student-led protests against the government, as stated in a media report on Friday. The Hilton Hotel in Kathmandu was one of the hardest hit, reporting damages over Rs 8 billion, according to the My Republica news portal, which cited a statement from the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN). Other major hotels, both local and international, located in areas like Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Jhapa, Biratnagar, Dhangadhi, Mahottari, and Dang-Tulsipur also experienced severe damage, as noted in the report. Many of the impacted hotels may struggle to reopen without extensive repairs, which will affect the employment of over 2,000 workers, according to the HAN.

The association voiced worries that the damages would hinder hotels from fulfilling their financial responsibilities to banks and other entities. They called for a judicial committee to look into the events, hold those responsible accountable, and provide compensation for the businesses impacted. The association also asked the government to implement an economic support package to aid in repairs and reconstruction, emphasizing that regaining investor confidence is essential for the growth of tourism and the economic health of the country. Tourism makes up nearly 7 percent of Nepal's GDP and serves as a key source of foreign income. The country's hospitality industry is still in the process of bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic.

At least 51 individuals lost their lives during violent anti-corruption demonstrations in Nepal this week, according to police reports released on Friday, as the extent of the turmoil that led to the government's fall becomes clearer, as reported by AFP. Meanwhile, the Nepali army announced on Friday that they had recovered more than 100 firearms that were stolen during the uprising. Over 12,500 inmates who escaped from various jails nationwide during the unrest are still at large. Additionally, a 57-year-old woman from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh named Rajesh Gola died after jumping from a hotel that was set on fire during the violent protests in Nepal. Gola was on a multi-day trip with her husband when their hotel, Hyatt Regency, caught fire.