KATHMANDU: The Jhapa district's Kakarvitta transit point, located in eastern Nepal and serving as a primary entry and exit point along the border between India and Nepal, has reopened to visitors from outside states. For the previous four years, this transit point has been inaccessible to these types of visitors because of COVID-19 limitations. The reopening, which started on August 1, was confirmed by Mohan Pariyar, Chief of the Kakarvitta Immigration Office.

Previously, the Indian side had reservations about allowing third-country tourists, despite Nepal having lifted its restrictions on foreign arrivals. The reopening was communicated to the Immigration Office, and since then, tourists from various countries have started arriving in Nepal via India, with departures from Nepal also resuming.

Industry leaders in tourism have voiced concerns about the extended closure and how it has impacted their companies. Citizens of the US, UK, and Switzerland, among other nations, can now enter Nepal, and travel between Nepal and India has resumed since the border opened.