Tourist markets of Pokhara

Pokhara has the unique characteristics of becoming all-the-year-round- destination. The terminologies like ‘tourist season’ and ‘off season’ in fact are not really applicable for Pokhara due to the quite favorable weather and pleasing environment throughout the year. In this context, the very cosmic power has blessed Pokhara in the sense of comfortable climatic elements like rain, snow, temperature, etc. Consequently, Pokhara has become the destination for multiple seasons.

Pokhara's tourism is largely known for a tourist destination for soft and hard adventures. It is the gateway to the world renowned Annapurna trekking area. Especially, the trekking season begins from the month of September and it goes up to March. Of course, the tourists who visit from April to July have sufficient activities to the countryside and sightseeing around the city and suburb areas. However, tourists are found enjoying in trekking throughout the year. Many tourists are usually involveed in different activities like research on nature, culture, ethnic and sports associating them under the tourism sector.

The following graph shows the exact record of the international tourists’

arrival to Pokhara from different countries in wide range.

The types of tourists visiting Pokhara vary according to the seasons. The tourists segment visiting Pokhara can be divided into two major segments; Value tourists and volume tourists.

5.4.1   The value markets

The value markets consist of those tourists who hail from long haul tourist generating countries like U.S.A, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Canada, etc. The tourists from these long haul tourists have the tendency of spending more and also have longer length of staying. They mainly indulge themselves into hard adventurous activities like long trekking, hiking, rock climbing, etc.

5.4.2   The volume markets

The visitors from the neighboring countries like India and China hold the major segments of these arrivals. The majority of tourism industry actors in Pokhara depend upon such segment. This segment of tourist markets consists of tourists coming in large numbers. Mass tourism is considered very important for the tourism of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . This segment of tourists is important in the sense that their flow doesn’t limit to certain period of time but is continued all the year round. Thus, this segment gives an end to the concept of "Low or Off Season" in the country. The boom in the economy and the increase in per capita income of the Indians and Chinese have led the increase in their arrivals to Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . The easy access from these nations to Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, with competitive airfares is another reason for their rise (NTB 2010).

Where the Chinese love soft to medium adventure holidaying, Indians are mostly attracted into pleasure, relaxing and shopping. Pokhara caters to all these requirements with limitless opportunities and options. Air and surface are two major modes of tourists’ arrivals in Pokhara for all kinds of tourists including India and Chinese. Table 5.1 provides such trends of last five years.

Table 5.1 Tourists arrivals in Pokhara by different mode of transport

Mode of Transport	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Surface Transfer	67736	125568	137576	162284	184552
Air	27063	39609	49067	41243	46247
Total	94799	165177	186643	203527	230799

Source: Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, , Pokhara, (2013); PTO (2011 )

5.4.3   Specified seasons in marketing Pokhara

There are following trends of tourists’ flock to Pokhara based on various seasons in the year.

September-April: This is the main trekking season for all tourists due to appropriate climate, clear visibility of the mountains and no rains.

End of January - Mid of February: This is the main season for Chinese tourists as they have 15 days national holiday for their spring festival which is widely known as Chinese New Year.

May-August: The summer vacation period for Indian tourists who flock in both by air and road transfers. Pokhara is a popular hideaway destination for Indians at this time to beat and avoid the extreme heat and summer in their country.