Banke, Sept. 9 -- In September last year, homestay owners like Ganga Dutta Jaisi in Gabhar Valley, Banke were riding the crest of a tourist boom.

They were hosting more than 500 foreign and domestic visitors daily, and business was going great. Gabhar Valley in south-western Nepal is a popular stop for sightseers bound for various destinations in the far west.

The growing visitor numbers had encouraged homestay owners to upgrade the facilities, and they launched expansion plans by borrowing funds.

Covid-19 dealt them a cruel blow. Arrivals evaporated following the lockdowns and restrictions; and saddled with heavy debts, homestay owners face certain ruin.

Many of them are abandoning the hospitality business and getting involved in the...