Nepal's Mountain Tourism in Disdain

Nepal's Mountain Tourism in Disdain is a Translated Version (from Nepali) of an Opinion Feature Published on 27th September 2021 Issue of Arthik Abhiyan Daily The World Tourism Day, Kathmandu, Nepal

Enchanting Himalaya 

Covering more than 80 percent of the country with hills and high mountains; most of the 14 highest mountains in the world above 8000 meters including the highest one Mount Everest, are located in Nepal. Furthermore, the main part of the world's longest mountain range the Himalayas is also here, which makes Nepal one of the most popular destinations in the world for hikers, trekkers and climbers.  It is needless to mention that, hundreds of thousands of visitors come to Nepal to experience these wonders of nature. However, the state has always misjudged the Mountain Tourism which possesses the power of boasting the economy and identity of the country in much greater level. 

It is enough to look at the government's budget speech presented every year to illustrate how the state has been neglecting the mountain tourism sector. It is rare to hear terms like trekking footpaths, mountaineering, climbers, guides, mountain tourism entrepreneurs related to mountain tourism in the hours-long speeches in the parliament. This is really sad. The fact that no relief or concession program has been introduced in the recent budgets and programs for the most affected by the covid epidemic further proves the state's negligence towards the country's mountain tourism. 

An example of how the people involved in the mountain tourism sector are looked down upon by those at the level of formulating the country's tourism policy can be found on CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Dr. Dhananjay Regmi's choice of words to address mountain tourism entrepreneurs in an interview with the BBC Nepali Service. During the interview, which aired on the BBC's Nepali service on August 28 last year (2020), he used derogatory words such as jhole (bag carrier) against trekking and mountaineering professionals; a word used for those who carry a bag (jhola) and tries to fulfill his needs by wandering around. He said that it was not easy to provide relief and incentives to those jholes who do not support the state through employment creating or tax paying. It is ironic that he and those like him at the policy-making level in the tourism sector have not been able to properly evaluate the importance of the sector. After protest by some individuals and organizations, Dr. Regmi clarified publicly that his intention was not to offend anyone though Nepal Tourism Board or other government departments responsible for tourism continue to undervalue mountain tourism.

In Nepal, which has immense potential for tourism, much can be done with less time and expense if policies and programs are implemented by understanding this sector in a correct manner. The contribution made by tourists who come for trekking and mountaineering is more crucial. Tourism statistics of 2019 before the epidemic shows that about 16 percent of the total tourists or about 200,000 tourists come to Nepal for trekking. A few thousand of them go mountaineering. The average length of stay of tourists coming to Nepal for trekking and climbing is anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. Since their stay is longer and they go to more remote places than other travelers, the economic activities they generate reach far and deep into remote places.  Because they reach far-flung places their per capita spending is also higher. Amidst the epidemic, the state has collected about rupees 600 million rupees (nearly 5 million us dollars) in taxes and royalty from 400 foreign climbers who came to climb Mt. Everest in the spring season of 2020. It is estimated that the economic activity they have created during mountaineering is around Rs 3 billion rupees; an example of great impact by a small number of tourists. 

Among the tourists who only go trekking, some of those take services of guides and other workers through Nepali agencies also add a great contribution in the tourism industry. Their period of stay, job creation and financial inputs are also significant. It is estimated that about 2000 agencies, 12,000 guides and 30,000 other workers are currently involved in the mountain tourism sector of Nepal. According to the latest tourism statistics, the average length of stay of a tourist in Nepal is about two weeks and per capita expenses per day is around 50 dollars.  If the government plans to improve this situation by making the length of stay of a tourist longer and the money they spend higher, then it is necessary for the government to bring policies, rules and programs to make mountain tourism systematic.  To do so is for the state to address areas related to mountain tourism, which is not happening.

In connection with the job to be done by the government in terms of tourism, not only the word tourism should be vaguely used as one of the buzz words. It should be categorized as mountain tourism, cultural tours, pilgrimage, safari and so forth and they should be acknowledged accordingly to preserve, promote and market in the global tourism stage.

Even the simple things such as the fulfillment of duties of government liaison officers who claim to 'accompany' climbers but returns home after few days trek and claim their perks at the beginning for whole expedition period; proper waste management policy in trekking and climbing, maintenance of natural environment and preservation of prevailing trekking routes while constructing motor roads and modern development in the mountainous region will help to keep the mountain tourism alive. However, in the absence of a systematic action plan, trekking activity has reached an alarming level of not finding any suitable trekking trails, an example of which can be once sought as the world's no #1 trekking route the Annapurna Circuit which has been shrunk to one week or less from three weeks due to trekking route destruction caused by motor road construction.

The new government formed in the country has not appointed a tourism minister till the eve of this year's World Tourism Day on September 27. If the new Minister of Tourism properly dissects the various forms of tourism in the country and puts forward policy formulation and action plans accordingly, there will be a ray of hope in the tourism sector that will be revived along with the declining effect of the covid pandemic.