Chitwan, Dec. 7 -- Even on chilly mornings, tourists heading out for jeep safaris at Chitwan National Park were seen gathering in hotel dining halls for breakfast. The scene unfolded at the Tigerland Safari-Lemon Tree Resort in Jagatpur, ward 33 of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, close to the park headquarters at Kasara.

Most of the safari-goers were foreign visitors, with only a few Nepali tourists. Hotel Manager Lok Bahadur Kunwar said 45 guests were staying at the resort that morning. Only four of them were Nepali.

At Patihani, another major entry point for boat safaris on the Rapti river, most tourists were from Hong Kong, and Nepalis were rarely seen there. According to the park's office, in the western sector-including Kasara, Meghau...