But increasing numbers of Chinese visitors may replace missing westerners
Tourism, a major earner for impoverished Nepal, has been badly hit by the Maoist insurgency, but there are hopes for a recovery as the number of Chinese tourists grows.
While other tourists cancelled plans to visit the spectacularly beautiful Himalayan kingdom, Jiangsu businessman Xue Chengdong, 31, and 10 others landed in the middle of the week-long rebel siege of the capital.
'There's trouble in so many parts of the world, so this is not so scary,' he said. 'We wanted to experience the thrill of the Himalayas, so there's no way we would have cancelled our trip.'
Recognising that the future lies in attracting Chinese tourists, the Nepalese government has changed immigration laws, granting visas to Chinese tourists on arrival.
'When ordinary Chinese began travelling in a big way, they first focused on countries such as Thailand and Malaysia,' said Chenji Ji, first secretary in the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. 'Now their attention is shifting to South Asia - India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.'
Authorities are quick to point out the country is safe for travellers, even during this week's blockade.