TOURISM IN NEPAL

Political Sector: A Major Problem for the Development of Tourism Industry

2011-08-18T18:51:00.000+05:30

I’ve listed some problems and challenges that Nepal had to face in the development and promotion of tourism industry, most of which are still persisting in my previous post Problems and Challenges seen in Tourism Industry of Nepal. Today in this post I’m going to shade light on the political sector of Nepal which has become a main obstacle in the development of tourism as well as other sectors. Unstable government and irresponsible politicians are the main reasons because of which Nepal is lagging behind in every aspects of development.

The political sector of Nepal has been the main problem for tourism sector. Politicians who claim to prosper the living standards of the people through all round development limit their vows/promises only to the period before the election. After when they are appointed as ministers in different government organization they do nothing. Such irresponsibility of government officers is the major obstacle in development of tourism as well as other sectors. We can list many examples of such irresponsibility from government sectors. As for example, the members of parliament who claimed to finalize the Constitution of Nepal before 2067 B.S. are unable to complete it even after more than a year and half has elapsed. I think they are being paid just to sit and chat in the parliament. They are wasting the national revenue to fulfill their personal needs and demands. Without proper constitution and stable government no country can progress let alone Nepal, where the public is illiterate and unaware. It is therefore very important to form a stable and dedicated government that can lead Nepal towards the path of development.

For this we, common people should be aware and literate and therefore it is necessary that every children be provided with quality education. Media sectors can help to make general people aware by publishing awareness related articles in their newspapers or broadcasting such programs through televisions or radios. They can also play an important role of mediator between government and local people. They can help the voice of people reach the government as well as let people know what is happening in government sectors through their newspapers or other forms of communications. They should outline and criticize the faults as well as praise for the good works done by both the government sectors and the people.

We all should unite together and pressurize the concerned authorities to do their work properly with full responsibility and dedication. Political sector should be developed and the politicians should be aware about their duties and responsibilities and be dedicated towards the development of Nepal. They should realize the fact that the development of Nepal is directly related to the development of Nepalese people including theirs. For the development of Nepal, tourism sector should be developed and promoted as it responsible for earning foreign currencies.

Have you got any ideas on how we can prosper our living standard as well as develop tourism industry? Please do not hesitate to share with us. Remember your duties as a responsible citizen and extend your hand in developing our Nation by posting your views in the Comments below.

What Can Nepalese People do to Promote Tourism Industry?

2011-08-13T06:56:00.000+05:30

Nepalese People are the one who can get most out of the tourism development as they are the one who are benefited the most. Since development of tourism industry is directly linked with earning foreign currency which eventually leads to development and promotion of Nepal and its citizens, it becomes our responsibility to promote and develop Tourism Industry in Nepal. And all Nepalese should participate in this promotional campaign as single person or the government only can't be successful in the task alone, we all (Government and Public) should unite together for this.

From a young child (schoolboy) to old persons can help for this. Education is the key factor to the promotion of tourism industry as it is responsible for arousing awareness and bringing consciousness in people. So, at first it is necessary to provide quality education to the people, for which every parents have to send their children to schools. We should also be very familiar with the needs, requirements and expectations of tourists. We should be able to provide them what they desire.

Since tourists come here for holidays and other recreational activities though some might come for research also it is most to maintain clean and healthy environment in which they can adapt easily. For this we should be cautious not to throw wastes and garbage everywhere. Houses and Industries must make proper disposal of such wastes. Farmers ( as most of the Nepalese people are ) can make wise utilization of their household and other wastes by converting into into compost manure which they can do simply by decaying the wastes in a pit or a ditch. Similarly, children and other youths must not throw chocolate wrappers and other waste products everywhere. Though must of the localities have been declared 'खुल्ला दिशा मुक्त क्षेत्र', the general public are not following the rules properly and are polluting the environment. Though government from its side can arrange public toilets in all public palaces throughout Nepal ( as it has done in some ) , it is our duty and responsibility to keep our surrounding environment clean. Failure to do so will have adverse effect on our health and can lead to spreading diseases such as diarrhea, dysentry and other water and air borne disease. What we can do from our side is stop polluting our own environment by ourselves and arouse consciousness in those whose we see are degrading and polluting the environment.

Similarly, many tourists expect the availability of basic facilities in places. We can also help some tourists we see in our locality by providing drinking water and some time to rest in our house. Government also from its side must try to make availability of public taps , toilets ,patis, pauwa , hotels and other facilities in tourist places such as Pokhara, Karnali, Kathmandu, and many other places. Tourists must be respected by every Nepalese and try not to cheat or disrespect them. We should be aware of the fact that they are our guests and according treat them nicely as God (as the famous Nepali saying goes 'Guests are God' ('अतिथि देव भव')).

These are the two basic things that every Nepali Citizen can do from his/her side to promote tourism industry in Nepal and consequently lead to his/her own promotion along with Nation's development. What do you think you can do from your side to promote tourism industry in Nepal? Or Are you already doing something to attract tourists and promote tourism? Please answer below in comments.

(Please Comment below if you think promotion of Tourism Industry is Important so that we can promote tourism together (as I mentioned above we should unite together to promote tourism).)

Activities of Nepal Government to Promote Tourism Industy

2011-06-02T18:27:00.000+05:30

Government of Nepal is very conscious about the promotion and development of tourism industry in recent years. It is the main factor that was missing in previous governments. Thus, we have a better chance to improve the condition of tourism industry in Nepal.

Government from his side is trying its best to increase the number of tourists entering Nepal. With this motive the government launched the national tourism campiagn and is trying whatever it can to make it successful. Different sub campiagns such as tree plantation, cleaning surroundings, proper dumping of household garbage in city areas, managing proper transportation facilities for tourists, improving airline services, etc are conducted for this. Not only this our government is also steping ahed in the promotion of tourism industry by advertising about Nepal and it’s beauty through newspapers, television, internet and other forms of medias. The official website of tourism industry of our government at http://www.tourism.gov.np/ has also recognized this objective.

Hence, govenmernt is trying hard to provide good environment, services and facilities to the tourists. So, why should we not help it in doing such a good job. Let’s try to do whatever we can to promote and develop tourism industry in Nepal. Let us get united and help our government in it’s every campiagn. Let us make ‘Nepal Tourism Year 2011’ a grand success so we can build our own New Nepal which will be rich, developed and where the people will be educated and employed.

Paragliding

2011-03-06T06:50:00.000+05:30

Paragliding in Nepal can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seeking. A trip will take you over some of the best scenery on earth, as you share airspace with Himalayan griffin vultures, eagles, kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungle, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalayas.

(Source: http://www.tourism.gov.np/)

Rafting

2011-02-28T03:30:00.000+05:30

Rafting is one of the best ways to explore the typical cross section of natural as well as ethno-cultural heritage of the country. There are numerous rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing experience. You can glide on calm jade waters with munificent scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert river-men employed by government authorized agencies. One can opt for day of river running or more. So far, the government has opened sections of 10 rivers for commercial rafting. The Trisuli river ( Grade 3+) is one of the most popular of Nepal’s raftable rivers. The Kali Gandaki (5-5+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges for five days of intense rapids. The Bhote Koshi (4-5) is 26km of continuous white water and the raging Marshyanghi is four days of uninterrupted white water. The Karnali river (4-5) provides some of the most challenging rapids in the world. The Sun Koshi (4-5), 27km, requiring 8-10 days to complete, is a big and challenging river.

Adventurers are provided with world-class services by rafting agents. Agencies here provide life jackets, camping and the standard rafting paraphernalia needed by world-class rafting. An extremely popular sport in Europe, cannoning is now available in Nepal. Cannoning gives you the freedom to explore some of the most ruggedly beautiful, yet forbidden places in the world.

(Source: http://www.tourism.gov.np/)

Mountain Flight

2011-02-22T19:31:00.000+05:30

Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains on earth. Mountain flights offer the closest possible aerial views of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and the Tibetan Plateau. Mountain flights appeal to all category of travelers and have become a popular tourist attraction of Nepal. For those who are restricted by time or other considerations from going for a trek, these flights offer a panoramic view of the Himalayan in just one hour.

(Source: http://www.tourism.gov.np/)

Bungee Jumping

2011-02-19T20:00:00.001+05:30

The ultimate thrill of a bungee jump can now be experienced in Nepal at one of the best sites that this sport can boast of anywhere in the world. Nepal’s first bungee jumping site is situated 160 meter above, over the Bhote Koshi river, inviting you to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush in the surroundings of this amazing place. The jump, at 160 meter, is staffed and operated by some of the most experienced jump masters in the business.

(Source: http://www.tourism.gov.np/)

Bird Watching

2011-02-14T13:08:00.000+05:30

Nepal is a paradise for bird lovers with over 646 species (almost 8% of the world total) of birds, and among them almost 500 species are found in Kathmandu Valley alone. The most popular bird watching spots in Kathmandu are Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati river, Taudaha and so on. Grab your binoculars and any other things you need and look forward for a great experience.

Trekking

2011-02-12T18:51:00.000+05:30

The best way to experience Nepal’s unbeatable combination of natural beauty and culture riches is to walk through them. One can walk along the beaten trails or virgin tracks. Either way you are in for an experience for a lifetime. Along with forests of rhododendron, isolated hamlets, and small mountain villages, birds, animals, temple, monasteries and breathtaking landscapes, you will also encounter friendly people of different cultures offering a fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life.

For more visit Nepal Government official site for Tourism Industry.

Mountain Climbing

2011-02-08T11:58:00.000+05:30

The 800 km stretch of the Nepal Himalayan is the greatest in the world with eight peaks that rise above 8,000m including the highest in the world, Mt. Everest and third highest peak, Mt. Kanchenjunga. Ever since the country opened its peaks to climbers in 1994, the Nepal Himalayan has become a great theater of mountaineering activity and the drama of success and failure have provided impetus to thousands of men and women to meet the ultimate challenge.And mountaineering has been one of the major tourism activities. The Nepal Himalayan has been an attraction to many people, be they saints, philosophers, researchers or adventurers.

Major Tourism Activities in Nepal

2011-02-07T20:49:00.000+05:30

Are you worried thinking what you can do in Nepal? It's not such a big problem for you to think about it. Nepal Tourism Industry has made arrangements of different adventurous and interesting activities for you to do here in Nepal together with us. There is a long list for you to choose from. You can go for trekking, mountaineering, rafting, bungee jumping, sight seeing, jungle safari, elephant riding, hot air ballooning, mountain biking, paragliding, rock climbing, bird watching, etc and many more.

Come visit us this year and enjoy your holidays with us. Let's share our feelings, beliefs, cultures, thinking and live in this world together in peace and harmony.

Expectations of New Tourism Policy

2011-02-03T13:03:00.000+05:30

The New Tourism Policy i.e. Tourismpolicy2009/2065 has expected to introduce Nepal as a beautiful, entertaining and secure tourist destination place as well as to increase the activities and business of different sectors of tourism such as airways, hotel, travel and tour thereby contributing to the earning of the local people by providing the opportunity of employment along with productivity, rate of increase in peoples’ living standard and economic condition as well as the national economy.

From this there will be the development in the competition of the ownership of local community of rural tourism sectors and qualitative services. Along with this, there will be improvement in the execution of infrastructures set in current tourists’ places. Also, it will encourage the management of investment towards the development of infrastructures in new places having the possibilities of touristy. There will be an opportunity to learn good aspects of other countries as well as to commercialize our social and cultural practices through the tourists of other countries. It will also provide additional encouragement in this sector as it will be easy to disseminate the features/characteristics of Nepal throughout the world through the conservation and publicity of cultural, natural, archeological as well as biological heritages of different places of Nepal.

Along with these expectations from the new tourism policy, the government also has its own objectives of the tourism policy. The government has hoped to achieve these objectives through the current national tourism campaign i.e. Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

Problems and Challenges seen in Tourism Industry of Nepal

2011-02-01T13:12:00.000+05:30

Nepal had to face many problems and challenges in the course of the development and promotion of tourism industry. Some of the challenges and problems are listed below:-

1. Unable to employ the possibilities of equal and proportionate development of infrastructures in different tourist destinations by identifying them as opportunity. Similarly, to distribute the profit from this sector to concerned authorities in a proportionate manner had been challenging.

2. Not able to expand the services and facilities and thus were unable to get benefited because of being unable to provide appropriate practical trainings to the manpower related to the tourism industry.

3. Unable to get expected benefits from the services and goods used by tourists due to the unavailability of local production. Similarly, it was a challenging task to run tourism related programs in environment friendly manner due to internal controversies.

4. Though there were many possibilities and opportunities of tourism development it had become a challenging task to monetize the benefits by standardizing the development. Similarly, being unable to do the proper evaluation of benefits got from tourism campaigns and carry on sustainable development programs for eradication of rural poorness.

5. Not able to effectively run the task of conserving natural and artificial heritages in the lack of sufficient resources, statistics and communication.

6. The tourism industry is not getting priority in the investment as associated governmental, non governmental and private investors were involved more on the promotional activities rather than in the development of infrastructures.

7. Not being able to run programs in a proportional manner with road, drinking water, electricity, communication which is directly related to infrastructure development.

8. To publicize about Nepal, its natural beauty, biodiversity, and places to visit was very difficult due to the lack of advertisement and communication.

In such a way Nepal had to face many problems and challenges in the development of tourism industry. Being unsatisfied with the development and promotion strategy of the tourism industry government of Nepal felt the need of new tourism policy. And thus the tourismpolicy2009 was made in 2009 A.D. (2065 B.S.). The tourism industry has many expectations from this new policy.

Situation of Tourism Industry in Nepal few years ago.

2011-01-31T15:07:00.000+05:30

There should be proportionate or equal role of government and private sectors in the subject matters related to the development of infrastructures needed for tourism industry, conservation of tourist destinations, increase quantitatively and qualitatively the services and facilities to be provided as well as safety and security of tourists.

But, we were unable to see the expected effectiveness in the cooperation between the authorities and institutions which were directly involved in the development of basic infrastructures such as road facility, drinking water, electricity, communication, etc. Due to the division of generated profit among themselves and blockage in the development of tourism infrastructures the rights, values and wills of the local people and community could not be addressed as a result the investment of government was not utilized sustainably in the exploitation of built and developed infrastructures. A state of confusion was seen in Nepal i.e. whether there should be infrastructural development or number of tourists should be increased provided that sufficient numbers of tourists visit Nepal. Due to being unsuccessful in establishing the expected harmonious relationship amidst tourists, local community and residents in the tourist destinations sometimes unbalances were seen. It was very important to concentrate our attention in the reconstruction and distribution of symmetry or a shape of tourism development which was injured (incomplete) during the war amidst government and people.

It is obvious that the situation of tourism industry of Nepal was not so good few years ago. But, government of Nepal, concerned authorities, local peoples as well as community groups realized the importance of development of tourism industry for increasing national economy as well as to increase the living standard of the people and are working together to achieve the set goals by identifying and minimizing the problems and challenges seen in the tourism industry.

National Tourism Campaign - "Nepal Tourism Year 2011"

2011-01-30T22:00:00.000+05:30

With a view of promoting tourism industry in Nepal the government and concerned authorities decided to launch a national tourism campaign "Nepal Tourism Year 2011" on October 25, 2008. Giving continuity to the decision or plan the government declared 2011 A.D (2067 B.S as according to Nepal's National Calendar) as Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

After getting success from the provisional tourism campaign of 2010 A.D. and being able to increase the number of total tourists entering Nepal by 18.5% than that of previous year the concerned authorities got interested in the tourism sector and began to promote it. As a result, the government of Nepal declared 2011 A.D. as the 'Nepal Tourism Year 2011'. The campaign is a contribution to achieve the set goals and objectives of the tourism policy formulated in 2009 A.D. According to the policy the vision of Nepal Tourism Industry is to develop Nepal as an attractive, entertaining and a safe place in the world map by preserving and promoting Nepal's natural, cultural, biological as well as artificial heritages and their goal is to utilize the national heritages in tourism related activities thereby increasing the number of tourists entering the country and contribute to the nation's economy so as to promote the living standard of the people. With the belief to achieve these goals in near future government of Nepal, Ministry of Tourism Industry and other concerned authorities are working very hard.

With the main slogan "नेपाल पर्यटन वर्ष २०११ सफल पारौं" (Make Nepal Tourism Year 2011 a grand success) and conducting different development activities government of Nepal believes to get a huge success in this national tourism campaign. Will Nepal be successful in achieving its goals? What is the present condition of tourism industry of Nepal? Find out more on my next post.