Nepal's two quakes shake tourism industry
Tourism, Nepal's economic mainstay, has suffered a severe blow in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes that rocked the country and killed over 8,500 people.
After two massive earthquakes, Kathmandu's infrastructure lies in ruins and so does its main source of income - tourism. The city's few surviving attractions are largely deserted.
On Kathmandu's usually bustling Thamel Street, local merchants say they are struggling. They say they need their tourists to come back.
Souvenir shop owner, Pok Parajuli, saying, "If you come to Nepal, that is a good relief for us. If you visit, because you're the people like source income for us. Tourism has great potential in Nepal."
Travel and tourism contribute up to 4% of Nepal's GDP. About 800,000 tourists visited the country last year, but that was before the quakes.
Between them, the two earthquakes of not only killed more than 8,500 people, they also decimated key heritage sites. The owner of United Tours and Travel, Sudarshan Prasad, predicts the situation will get worse.
On Kathmandu's usually bustling Thamel Street, local merchants say they are struggling. They say they need their tourists to come back.
Souvenir shop owner, Pok Parajuli, saying, "If you come to Nepal, that is a good relief for us. If you visit, because you're the people like source income for us. Tourism has great potential in Nepal."
Travel and tourism contribute up to 4% of Nepal's GDP. About 800,000 tourists visited the country last year, but that was before the quakes.
Between them, the two earthquakes of not only killed more than 8,500 people, they also decimated key heritage sites. The owner of United Tours and Travel, Sudarshan Prasad, predicts the situation will get worse.