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Pokhara best value city for budget visitors

An aerial view of Begnas Lake near Pokhara of Kaski district, on Friday, March 25, 2016. Photo: RSS

In Picture: An aerial view of Begnas Lake near Pokhara of Kaski district, on Friday, March 25, 2016.

Kathmandu, June 12, 2016: If the Price of Travel’s Backpacker’s Index is anything to go by, Nepal will be seeing frugal travellers flocking to the country in the near future.

In its list of 20 best value cities for budget travellers that cost less than $30 per day, Pokhara — often considered tourism capital of Nepal — has topped list with a daily total of $15.84.

It was followed by Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in Vietnam with daily budgets of $17.13 and $18.30, respectively, according to the Forbes magazine.

Moreover, Kathmandu has been ranked in the sixth position with daily cost of $19.71.
Price of Travel, a database of global travel costs, released a ranking of 136 international cities that are bargains for low-cost tourists in February.

The list is based on a daily total of expenses that includes the cost of a dorm bed at a good and economical hostel, three budget meals, three cheap beers, two public transportation rides and one paid cultural attraction, according to Forbes.

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While the exact ranking of the cities fluctuates with exchange rates, the 20 best value destinations from that list were based on May 4 exchange rates. As of May 4, a majority of the cities that made the cut were in Southeast Asia. India, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand all had multiple locations in the top 20.

South America and Europe had two cities in the top 20 and Africa had one, says the report.

Last year, the US dollar hit its highest level against other foreign currencies since 2003, making international travel more affordable for foreigners.

The news may provide some respite for tourism entrepreneurs as the sector is just rising from devastation of last year’s massive quakes and months-long border blockade.

“In addition to being easy on your wallet, these faraway destinations have a lot to offer in terms of adventure,” says Forbes report. “Just remember that it’s always a good idea to check for travel warnings to any country before booking a trip.”