The shift in trends has opened huge business prospects for dealers of such buses in the country. Bus dealers have said that there has been an increase in demand for such vehicles in recent years. They said that besides local travellers, an increase in the foreign tourist arrivals have also helped to push up sales of luxury buses. Demand for such buses has increased from travel agencies and transport entrepreneurs.

“We sold 10 more luxury buses in 2013 compared to 2012,” said Sharad Neupane, product manager at Sipradi Trading, authorised distributor of Tata buses in Nepal. “In 2012, we sold 50 units, but sales reached 60 units in 2013.”

He added that travel and tour agencies were purchasing new luxury buses to give passengers a pleasurable experience while some companies have been replacing their old vehicles with new luxurious models.

“Tourists from America and Europe want to travel on long routes by bus with the same comfort they experience in their countries,” he said. “That is why travel agencies have been focusing on comfort and quality.”

Sipradi offers three models in the luxury segment, the Tata Marcopolo LP 713, LP 1512 PC 42 and LP 1512 PC 52. They are priced from Rs 8.5 to Rs 9 million.   

He said bus operators were also keen to add luxury vehicles to their fleets as travellers were willing to pay extra for comfort. Tickets on luxury bus services generally cost 25 percent more.

“Air conditioning, video, mobile charging points, Wi-Fi, low vibration and noise from the road and various other features make passengers feel that they are travelling by air,” said Suraj Bhattarai, deputy general manager of Eastern Motors, the authorised distributor of Eicher buses in Nepal.

The company offers two models of the LP 20.15 MP series in 30 and 39 seat models. Prices start at Rs 6.2 million. He said that they were seeing an enormous growth in sales of luxury vehicles. “We have sold 30 vehicles so far this year.”  

He said that the luxury buses were appropriate for people who seek comfort when travelling on long routes. “The market has been demanding ultra luxury buses, but the difficult road conditions of the main highways are the main challenge for that,” said Bhattarai.

Currently, luxury bus services are offered on routes linking Kathmandu with main cities like Pokhara, Biratnagar, Dharan, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Kakkarb-hitta, Dhangadhi and Surkhet.