Kathmandu -The youth-led protests of September 8 and 9 have begun to show ripple effects across multiple sectors. Several countries have tightened visa rules for Nepalis, while many foreign visitors have started canceling their bookings to Nepal.

The protests, originally sparked by young people demanding action against corruption and irregularities, turned violent, resulting in fires at government buildings including Singha Durbar, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court.

When security forces opened fire, 19 people were killed, further inflaming the demonstrations on September 9. Much of the country’s infrastructure was set ablaze, and more than 15,000 inmates escaped from prisons. Of them, some 9,000 remain at large.

With convicted criminals now openly roaming the streets, foreign governments have begun placing Nepal on sensitive lists, imposing stricter-though often unofficial-visa restrictions.

Recently, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific suspended flights to Nepal, while the United Arab Emirates stopped issuing visit visas to Nepalis.

When political demonstrations in any country turn violent, it is common for foreign governments to advise against travel to such destinations and restrict the entry of their citizens as well as travelers from those nations.

In recent weeks, most diplomatic missions in Nepal have reportedly stopped issuing visas to Nepalis. Applications already submitted are also being denied. Visa and travel service providers confirm that this trend is growing rapidly.

In the tourism sector, more than 50 percent of bookings made by Chinese travelers-long drawn to Nepal as a budget-friendly destination-have already been canceled. Many are now shelving their plans to visit.

Beyond China, India and most Western countries have issued travel advisories against visiting Nepal. The impact is being felt in airline ticket sales and hotel reservations, with cancellations rising sharply by the day, according to industry insiders.