Kathmandu, Feb. 21 -- flung village of Khijiphalate in Okhaldhunga district of Nepal's eastern hills, Dendi Sherpa is simply happy to see a political campaign unfolding in his locality. For him, it at least means some spending and a temporary revival of business after a prolonged dry spell.

"After months, I have seen my business get a boost for at least three weeks," said Sherpa, owner of Norlahi Sherpa Hotel and Lodge.

Sherpa has lived through a familiar cycle-working abroad and then returning home to start a business. There was a time when tourists frequently passed through Okhaldhunga en route to the 4,065-metre Pikey Peak in the lower Khumbu valley of the Everest region, one of Nepal's short and off-beat trekking routes. Now, he bar...