Kathmandu- Hundreds of foreign tourists, embarking on the sacred Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, are currently stranded in Kathmandu.

A new, lengthy visa verification process implemented by the Chinese Embassy, taking over 10 days instead of the usual three, is causing significant disruptions and financial strain for both tourists and Nepali tour operators during the peak season.

Around 3,000 tourists are currently stuck in Kathmandu awaiting their visas. This extended wait, with no guarantee of approval, is forcing pilgrims to remain in various hotels across Kathmandu, incurring additional costs and throwing carefully planned itineraries into disarray.

'The new visa verification policy is troubling tourism entrepreneurs during the peak season,' stated Ramesh Ojha, Managing Director of Ojha Holiday Tours and Treks Pvt. Ltd.

Namaraj Joshi, owner of Mumbai's Leisure Port, echoed this concern, highlighting the 10-day visa wait for his group of 39.

Adding to the woes, recent floods in Rasuwa have led to the closure of the Kerung route from Rasuwagadhi, a popular access point for Mansarovar-bound tourists, particularly those from India. This closure has compelled tour operators to reroute their Mansarovar itineraries, further complicating logistics.

 Meanwhile, the issue has drawn the attention of the Nepalese government. During a meeting of the House of Representatives, International Relations and Tourism Committee on July 6, the plight of the stranded tourists was discussed.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, committed to taking initiatives with the Chinese Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the visa process.

Tour operators are bearing the brunt of the delays.

'We are the worst hit due to the delay in visa verification, as we have to manage the tourists' lengthened stay, which is costing us more than what we earn by managing the running tour package,' complained Surya Pathak, Managing Director of Soham Journeys Pvt. Ltd. Pathak.

His company used to send 3,000 tourists in a season, anticipates barely reaching 1,000 this year, a stark contrast to the nearly 4,000 people his company facilitated in 2019.

The Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage season runs from May to September. 

 The Association of Kailash Tour Operators, an umbrella body of 30 operators, estimates around 25,000 tourists visit Mansarovar via Nepal annually.The Nepalgunj-Simikot-Hilsa route is a popular choice due to its proximity.High-spending tourists, including Indian citizens residing in various countries, often opt for air transport via Simikot or Lhasa.
 
 The trip can cost Indian citizens between Rs. 250,000 to 300,000, and at least Rs. 1 million for non-resident Indians. A large number of NRIs from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia use Nepal as a transit point.

 Foreigners typically acquire entry permission from Lhasa and receive their visa within three days of submitting their passport. The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu requires in-person visa verification.

Tour operators estimate that tourists traveling to Mansarovar via Nepal account for about 20 percent of the total visitors to the sacred site.-RSS