Rafting business dropped by around 15 percent compared to the same period last year. The Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA) attributes this to decrease in the number of adventure tourists, inability by many companies to address safety issues, increase in pollution in the rivers and most importantly, due to the fear of violence and insecurity due to the scheduled election.

Nani Kaji Thapa, president of the NARA, said most of the rafting operators have reported 10 to 20 percent drop in their business this season compared to the same season last year. “Even though we increased the tariff for rafting on the Trishuli and the Bhotekoshi rivers to US$ 30 and $50 per day, respectively, up by just $5 per day for tourists other than from China and the SAARC countries, the revenue from the business went down as there were a very few rafters this season,” said Thapa.

The association has set tariff for rafting on the Trishuli River for tourists from China and the SAARC countries at $25 per day. He further said that due to the decline in business, rafting operators could not fully follow the increased rate and even sold the package at cheaper rates.