Vol. 10 No. 3 (2022)
Journal Space and Culture, India

Perspective

The Pandemic in the Himalayan Country: Nepal

Published 2022-11-28

  • Venkat Rao Pulla
    • ,
  • Sadikshya Bhattarai
    • ,
  • Binay Jung Thapa
    • ,
  • Sukrita Rai

Venkat Rao Pulla
Foundation Professor of Strengths-Based-Social Work Practice, Brisbane Institute of Strengths-Based Practice; Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the College of Arts, Society & Education, James Cook University, Inaugural Fellow, Australian College of Researchers & Life Member, Australian Institute of International Affairs

Sadikshya Bhattarai
Researcher, Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility, Social Science Baha, Kathmandu, Nepal

Binay Jung Thapa
PhD Student, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Texas State University, USA

Sukrita Rai
Lecturer of Social Work, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating economic impact globally and Nepal is no exception. Tourism and migration abroad to work— two of the important sectors that have significantly contributed to the Nepali economy — have suffered tremendously in the face of lockdown and other restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, this paper aims to understand how COVID-19 impacted Nepalis while focusing on Nepal’s tourism and migration sector. The paper is based on the review of secondary resources, including newspaper articles available in the public sphere. Data in this paper comes from the period prior to February 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation of Nepalis who were recovering from social and economic destruction caused by the global earthquake of 2015. The resulting lockdowns, the closing of land ports and airports, and the limitation of people’s mobility have significantly affected Nepal’s tourism sector. In addition, thousands of Nepali migrants lost their jobs and incomes in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, Malaysia, India, and other destination countries as the pandemic struck the global economy. However, Nepali people appear to remain resilient in the face of yet another disaster.

Keywords

Covid-19, Nepali Society, 2020 Pandemic, Nepal

pdf

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