Nepal Plane Crash Leaves Tourism’s Recovery At Risk: Will Recent Crash Derail The Comeback?

Nepal plane crash: A Saurya Airlines aircraft crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, according to The Kathmandu Post. The plane, bound for Pokhara, was carrying 19 people, including the aircrew, when the accident occurred around 11 a.m., as reported by TIA spokesperson Premnath Thakur. Police and firefighters are currently conducting rescue operations at the site. Local media reported that rescue teams have recovered 18 dead bodies and all onboard were Suarya Airlines staff.

Planes In Nepal Prone To Crash

This crash follows a tragic incident on January 15, 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport, marking the deadliest air disaster in Nepal in the past thirty years. That crash claimed the lives of 57 Nepalis and 15 foreigners.

The latest crash happened shortly after Pokhara International Airport began operations. Despite the pilot reporting no issues before the incident, the airport is known for its relatively straightforward navigation. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.

Nepal's Tourism Industry Rebounds In 2024

Nepal's tourism sector is showing promising signs of recovery as foreign tourist arrival figures for the first quarter of 2024 reveal significant growth. According to data released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), foreign arrivals via air increased by 33.78% year-on-year in the first three months of this year, as reported by the local news outlet.

A total of 304,693 international visitors entered Nepal through March 2024, compared to 227,755 during the same period in 2023. The World Bank's report published on April 2 highlights the services sector as a key driver of this growth, particularly in tourism-related services.

March 2024 alone saw 128,167 foreign tourists, up from 99,427 in March 2023 and surpassing pre-COVID numbers for that month. In March 2019, Nepal had welcomed 127,351 tourists. Despite this positive trend, the total number of arrivals in the first three months of 2024 still falls short of the 311,047 recorded in the first three months of 2019. Nepal's peak year for tourism remains 2019, with 1,197,191 foreign tourists.

The pandemic severely impacted the industry, with arrivals plummeting to 230,085 in 2020 and 150,962 in 2021. Recovery began in 2022 with 614,869 tourists and continued to strengthen in 2023 with 1,014,876 arrivals. The strong start to 2024 suggests that Nepal could potentially surpass its pre-pandemic numbers by the end of the year, as per local media reports.

March marks the beginning of the spring tourism season, renowned for trekking and mountaineering. This period is particularly busy with expeditions, including those to Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. As the tourism sector continues to recover, Nepal remains a key destination for adventurers and nature enthusiasts worldwide.

Will This Plane Crash Again Affect Nepal Tourism?

This Saurya plane crash at the Kathmandu International Airport is not the first plane crash in Nepal. Last year in in 2023, a Yeti Airlines flight with 72 people on board crashed near Pokhara International Airport. That deadliest plane crash had a major impact on the tourism industry of Nepal.

According to Hariram Adhikari, president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATA) Gandaki, noted that the recent air crash led to a significant 20% drop in air passengers for the period following the incident. This decline was primarily due to concerns about air safety among domestic travellers, as reported by Nepal's media outlet.

Adhikari reported that during marketing trips to Indian cities, questions about Nepal's air safety created challenges in promoting tourism. The tourism sector in Pokhara, in particular, felt the repercussions for about three months post-accident.

Adhikari explained that shortly after the inauguration of Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA), the crash heightened concerns about the airport's safety. This incident had a substantial negative effect on domestic tourism and created a sense of distrust toward Nepal's air service, impacting overall perceptions of air travel in the region. Domestic travellers, already cautious due to COVID-19, became even more reluctant to fly, preferring land travel over air travel.

The team assigned to investigate the accident has recently submitted a report, which confirmed that human error was the primary cause of the crash and affirmed that there were no technical issues with the airport. The report reassured that Nepali skies remain safe, as per media reports.

Pom Narayan Shrestha, president of the Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), highlighted that the January 15 crash had significant national and international repercussions. Despite air travel being the safest mode of transport, the accident led to substantial human suffering and halted the tourism sector for an extended period, instilling fear among passengers.

Shrestha noted that while the crash initially disrupted airport operations and had a prolonged adverse effect, there has been a noticeable recovery. Air travel to Pokhara has recently regained momentum, marking a positive shift in the tourism sector.