Nepal's deadly protests hammer tourism sector as arrivals fall 30%

Nepal’s deadliest protests in decades erupted just as the country entered its peak tourist season, dealing a blow to businesses that had been preparing to welcome trekkers from around the globe to experience its world-famous trails. Shops, pubs and restaurants lining the neatly organised alleys of places like Thamel — Kathmandu's bustling tourist hub — remained largely deserted, even after reopening in the aftermath of a violent anti-corruption protest that left 72 dead, over 2,000 injured and forced former prime minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. Nepal's tourism authority, hotel owners and trek organisers said arrivals had fallen by 30 percent from this time last year, leading to bookings being cancelled. "I am sitting outside idle because there are no...