2072: a harrowing year for tourism

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CB Adhikari (Kathmandu) / April 8: Tourism, a sector reconsidered to be a pillar of nation’s economy, saw a harrowing time throughout 2072BS. The April 25 (Baisakh 12) earthquake followed by big aftershock of May 12 and the undeclared blockade after the promulgation of the new constitution remained major domino effects to shrink the tourism business in Nepal.

Not only the tourism entrepreneurs but the entire economy saw hard times this past year. The appropriate time (Baisakh) for climbing and trekking was greeted with the disaster which reduced the tourism activities to virtual halt.

Needless to mention, Nepal’s natural, cultural and geographical specificities are globally celebrated. The cultural diversity is a major lure to foreign tourists. In addition to the trekking, the visits to historical and archaeological places are other unforgettable happenings to boost tourism, but the disaster shrank the foreign arrivals.

Owing to the earthquakes, mountain climbing came to a full stop. Similarly, the famous trekking routes of Annapurna and Manaslu were closed. Mountaineering is the most revenue making area in tourism. As the mountaineering stopped for long, it obviously incurred huge loss to country’s revenue.

Another factor to ruin country’s tourism is India’s unannounced blockade on Nepal. The blockade obstructed entire economic activities, causing a severe dent on country’s industries and the economy.

Despite this, the tourism entrepreneurs have been elated lately with the visit of UK Prince Harry. Harry’s visit has been successful to spread a message that Nepal is now safe though it faced devastating earthquakes.

As a result, tourists’ arrival is gradually increasing. Hotel occupancy is growing. In a bid to attract Chinese tourists, the government has decided free visa to the Chinese- effective from New Year 2016. China is the country fanning out largest number of its citizens across the globe as tourists.

NTB record shows 797,616 tourists visited Nepal in 2013 while the number saw slight increase with total visitors 790,118. Similarly, the Immigration Department said compared to the 2013 and 2014 record, the tourists’ arrival declined by 29.6 percent in 2015. RSS