May 09, 2023: As the spring season begins, there is a shortage of places to stay for tourists in the Everest (Khumbu) region this year. With the arrival of many trekkers and mountaineers for trekking and mountaineering, hotels in the Khumbu rural municipality area, especially in the town of Namche Bazaar, are fully booked and there is a lack of accommodations.
There is a complaints from both domestic and foreign tourists about the lack of places to stay in the Lobuche and Gorak Shep areas. Every year, during the spring season, there is usually a lot of hustle and bustle in the Khumbu region due to the arrival of trekkers and mountaineers. However, in the past two to three years, the number of tourists has decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to tourism entrepreneurs, this year, there are significantly more tourists in the Khumbu region than in previous years. Guides and porters are also in high demand and face difficulties finding places to stay due to the lack of accommodation. They often have to share their rooms and deal with the problem of limited food options. One porter mentioned that due to the lack of quality accommodations, they are forced to stay in sub-standard places, which can cause them to become sick. Additionally, the problem of food shortage also arises, with many tourists having to adjust their eating habits as a result.
He mentioned that although there are hotels and lodges on the way to Everest Base Camp, there is a lack of accommodation in Lobuche and the conservation area. He also mentioned the situation where people have to stay in teahouses for three to four hours without being able to eat anything.
During the trek to Everest Base Camp, a trekker named Binod Rai reported that there was a shortage of hotels and lodges in Lobuche and Gorak Shep. Similarly, a female guide who took foreign and domestic tourists to Everest Base Camp reported that tourists had to suffer from altitude sickness in Lobuche and Gorak Shep, along with experiencing poor quality food due to limited options.
