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Nepal in Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations

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Nepal has been included in the top list of the best places to travel this October by the world’s leading travel guide Lonely Planet.

“Everyone has seen the news reports from the April 25 earthquake in Nepal, but most reports neglected to mention that most of Nepal was untouched by the disaster, including the most popular trekking areas,” the travel guide said. “With the clearing of the monsoon rains, October is once again peak season for trekking, and the Annapurna region is a great, nay epic, place to start.”

Annapurna-region

From the gateway town of Pokhara, which saw little damage from the tremor, classic trekking routes such as the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary Trek offers the kind of views normally reserved for mountaineers, it said.

Pokhara is easy to reach from Kathmandu, also fully open for business, and it’s easy to make arrangements for a trek on arrival. “In the process, you’ll be performing a valuable social service, helping Nepal to rebuild after the disaster by investing directly in the local economy.”

The Annapurna Circuit is the most popular trekking route in Nepal . It includes the high pass of Thorong-La. The trek reaches an altitude of 5,416 metres at Thorong-La, touching the edge of the fabled Tibetan plateau. The magnificent mountain scenery seen at close quarters includes Annapurna 8,091 metres, Dhaulagiri 8,167 metres and Machhapuchchhre 6,993 metres. Every year, more than 100,000 trekkers visit the Annapurna area, 50 percent of whom visit the circuit.

Other places recommended by the travel guide are Jordan’s Petra, Mexico, Britain, Italy and New Mexico for the world-renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

With most of the countries lifting their negative travel advisories on Nepal, travel traders are optimistic that the country’s tourism will bounce back by autumn this year.

Recently, the US, UK and New Zealand lifted restrictions on their citizens travel ling to Nepal except to the districts hardest hit by the April 25 earthquake and aftershocks. A few countries have toned down their travel advisories.

The government, in a bid to revive the tourism industry, has been persuading countries to consider Nepal in regard to the travel alerts they have imposed after the earthquake.

The government has projected losing 40 percent of the tourists this year due to the mass departure of the visitors after the earthquake. Trip cancellations for the upcoming seasons are estimated to be more than 70 percent.

The Post-Disaster Needs Assessment report has pointed out that Nepal will significantly lose high-end tourists, but the low-end segment and backpackers will stick to their travel plans to visit the country.

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Source:Ekantipur

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Pokhara entrepreneurs assess Annapurna trails, declare them safe

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Pokhara entrepreneurs assess Annapurna trails, declare them safe

Tourism entrepreneurs of Pokhara have assessed trekking trails in the Annapurna Region and declared them safe to visit.

pokhara-team

Dipesh Shrestha/Republica Members of the ‘Solidarity Walk to Annapurna for Tourism Revival’ team, tourists and locals join hands at the top of Poon Hill (3,210 m).

Around 40 tourism entrepreneurs from Pokhara completed the popular Ghandruk-Ghorepani Trek this week as part of ‘Solidarity Walk to Annapurna for Tourism Revival’.
Ram Chandra Sharma, president of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal Western Regional Association (TAAN-WRA), said the solidarity walk was organized to access the condition of trails after the devastating earthquake.

From the top of Poon Hill (3,210 meters), TAAN-WRA declared that trekking trails in Annapurna Region, all highways and airports, business complexes, and hotels, guest house and restaurants are safe. “We are prepared to welcome tourists to Nepal,” added Sharma.

Binaya Acharya, secretary of TAAN-WRA, said all teahouses, hotels and lodges in Annapurna Region have resumed operation.

Tourism entrepreneurs say they trekked in the Annapurna Region because they cannot assure safety of tourists by staying in their offices. “We organized this walk despite the monsoon, because we cannot assure trekkers that they are safe here without making assessment of the route. Foreigners trust us only we provide them factual information,” he said.

Annapurna Region

Though hotels in Ghandruk-Ghorepani area are almost empty, local hoteliers are hopeful of welcoming trekkers in autumn. Kisam Gurung, president of Tourism Management Committee, Ghandruk said that the visit and assessment of the area by tourism entrepreneurs is a strong proof that the area is safe. “Now, we can confidently say that the area is safe,” he added.

Similarly, Tika Ram Sapkota, media coordinator of PTRC, said the solidarity walk and the dissemination of message that the area is safe will definitely help to bring tourists in the area in autumn. We hope tourists will not cancel their bookings,” he added.

Beatrice Hearne from Indiana (US), who has booked a seven-day Nayapul-Ghorepani-Phedi trek for herself and her husband for autumn, said she was concerned because of lack of factual information. “Now that the area has been declared safe, we are really excited about the trip,” she told Republica in a Facebook chat.

Som Thapa, president of Pokhara Tourism Council, as all trails, bridges, tea houses, hotels and lodges are safe, tourism entrepreneurs can now invite their guests without worrying about anything. “Now we can assure tourists confidently that the area is safe,” he added.

The walk was organized jointly by TAAN-WRA in coordination with PTRC.

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Source: My Republica

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An opportunity for all: Nepal is open to visitors

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An opportunity for all: Nepal is open to visitors

To create a unique and award winning experience for tourists

Kathmandu-durbar-square1

Restoring damaged UNESCO heritage structures is estimated to cost $18 million. While restoring the combined 743 damaged monuments can cost $117m. The restoring and rebuilding of all these cultural sites will take years. However, tourists can be offered new experiences to attract them to the cultural heritage sites.

With loss of our heritage assets, the challenge is how to keep tourists in Kathmandu for longer. Exhibitions or murals in front of heritage sites showing before and after images could help attract more tourists to the heritage sites.

Unesco-heritage-sites

An augmented reality application could also allow smart phone users to see pictures of what the square would have looked liked before the earthquake when the camera is at a certain space or area. There could also be narration by famous actors, information and interactive tools to create a world class and award winning multi-media experience that is promoted in Nepal and abroad. The disaster could be a new beginning.

Training

During the off season to deliver better services

Unesco-heritage-sites1

Comprehensive retraining of staff laid off and unemployed at this time (porters, waiters, hoteliers, managers, etc.) could be the ideal next step for the tourism sector to bounce back. In many ways it could be the perfect time. After good management training programs, staff and laid off employees will be ready to provide better services when the tourist season starts again after the monsoon.

Training programs will have to focus on helping entrepreneurs and employees provide newer services/products and identifying newer markets. Programs could focus on management, marketing, hygiene, customer care, etc. They could be delivered directly to affected workers as part of a revival package.

Ninety percent of the tour guides are unemployed, they have no work, they are jobless. There is insecurity among the tour guides [about] what to do. I have [asked] my colleagues, just wait for one year.

Hare Ram Baral, head of the Tourist Guide Association of Nepal

Safe Trekking Systems

To inspire confidence

safe-trekking-system

Design idea for a Himalayan mountain hut/Safe Trekking System courtesy of HMMD architecture competition initiated by Samarth-NMDP.

 As Nepal seeks assurances from international geologists and consultants on its popular trekking routes, especially the Everest and Annapurna regions that attract around 70 per cent of trekkers, the PDNA suggests creating a Safe Trekking System with standards and regulations for the quality of the product and how to manage it. Classifying trails will go a long way in enabling visitors and the industry to assess the risks associated with certain treks and areas based on altitude, length, facilities, location etc.

A Safe Trekking System requires a product that allows good communication along the trail, a monitoring system that tracks the location of visitors & staff during the trek, a responsive rescue system, appropriate shelter along the way, enterprises that offer good basic services and quality infrastructure including bridges and drinking water provisions. The Safe Trekking System also requires an effective management system that looks after classification, promotion, maintenance & investment and staff skills. During the slow monsoon season, the Samarth-NMDP programme is taking the lead towards the establishment of the Sate Trekking System with funds from UK AID/DFID.

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Source: Nepalitimes

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Govt survey finds major glacial lakes safe

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Govt survey finds major glacial lakes safe

News reports about glacial lakes developing serious cracks and heightened possibility of glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) in the aftermath of the April 25 earthquake made big headlines. Consequently, the government deployed monitoring teams to the mountains. However, a recent survey of the affected Himalayan region has dismissed any possibility of GLOF. The survey conducted by a team of experts deployed by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), boldly proclaims that the glacial lakes are out of danger.

Glacier-Lake

The report was made public during a press meet held at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoSTE) on June 21. Making a presentation on the report, Director General of DHM, Rishi Ram Sharma said the recent quakes have caused no serious damage to the glacial lakes.

“After being alarmed of the situation, we paid field visits to the respective districts and found no serious damage. For now, there is no danger of GLOF. Some of the issues were raised unnecessarily and sensitized,” said Sharma.

Concerns over the condition of two critically vulnerable glacial lakes — Tsho Rolpa in Dolkha and Imja in Solukhambu — had grown after rumors that the rivers in the area had swollen due to GLOF. The situation had turned more serious after news reports about discovery of deep and wide cracks near Tsho-Rolpa lake made headlines.

Monitoring of the two vulnerable glacial lakes were done on June 13, 15 and 16 simultaneously by a three-member team led by Sharma. Sharma however, said the series of strong jolts have caused a few minor cracks in the lakes.

“Imja lake is fine. We found no trace of damage in the region. However, some minor cracks were found near Tsho Rolpa glacial lake but they are not serious,” said Sharma.

The cracks were found on a pile of debris near one of the DHM stations near the edge of the lake. Sharma explained that the cracks are on a shallow portion near the lake and they pose no threat.

“Next to Tsho Rolpa lies a small hill and a small landslide has left its trace on it. As per our assessment, they do not pose any immediate threat of GLOF,” said Sharma.

On June 10, fear of a GLOF had scared the locals when the water level in the Dudhkoshi River rose 48 meters within an hour. GLOF was the first guess as it had not rained on that day. However, after an investigation, it was found that the water was from one of the many glacial lakes above Hongu VDC.

“It was not GLOF but overflow of water from glacial ponds formed at Hongu VDC,” said Chief of Flood Forecasting Division at DHM, Rajendra Sharma.

This is not the first time that overflowing of glacial ponds have been mistaken for GLOF. In one recent incident, on March 25 when supra glacial lake overflowed near Everest Base Camp, it had caused panic in the area.

According to Rijan Bhakta Kayasta, senior geologist and assistant professor at Kathmandu University, there are many glacial ponds in the mountains and near the glacial lakes and there is an instant need to study them.

“Glacial ponds are formed from the debris and melting of glaciers but our research studied only the major glaciers and glacial lakes. In order to understand such recent puzzling phenomena, there is an instant need to turn our focus on these small glacial ponds as well,” said Kayasta.

As per the report of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), there are 2,323 glacial lakes across the Himalayan region in Nepal. Out of them, 21 have been categorized as critically vulnerable.

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Source: REPUBLICA

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Specific Plan for Developing Tourism In Five Most Earthquake Affected Districts In Nepal

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In course of re-establishment of tourism industry in Nepal, a concept of tourism village is developed. This plan has a goal of making one village an example to tourism industry among five affected districts. Tourism ministry has planned in making five tourism villages.
Tourism Council will working in hand to hand with Urban Development ministry in this process. Said director in chief of Tourism council Mr. Tulashi Prasad Gautam. These type of villages will be made on most affected areas like Gorkha, Dhading, Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha.
Least affected villages from these regions will be selected and made Tourism Village. Gautam said, “For the development of villages, private organizations in those areas will be given some help in and other services will be made available to them.”
These districts are most visited tourist destinations. Langtang which lies in between Gorkha and Rasuwa district, Manasalu of gorkha and many regions of Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha are hugely affected by the quake. In place of the regions which has been completely destroyed by the earthquake new destinations are being planned for making.
According to tourism council, Langtang of Rasuwa, Manaslu of Gorkha, Helambu of Sindhupalchowk, and Gaurisankhar of Dolakha are being planned to be made as tourism villages.
More tourism villages will be made in other affected regions too, Gautam said. We need some home stays too as many of hotels in these regions are affected.

TOURISM RE-ESTABLISHMENT FUND:-
For the recovery of tourism a fund will be made in which first of all Nepal Tourism Board will help 10 crores. Said the Co- director in chief of council Ramesh Kumar Adhikari. A bank account will be opened as soon as possible and an appeal for help will be made to different organizations, international agencies etc. Tourism Recovery Committee (TRC) will make efforts on collection of details on affected areas and they will propose an agenda of developing those areas in right way.

FIRST PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO TREKKING:-
Many trekking routes are affected due to the earthquake. These routes will be made as soon as possible and government will give its full force for fast re-development of this trails, said co-director Adhikari. Adhikari also said, “Main Trekking are affected in many places, in some places it is fully destroyed and in some it is partially affected. Partially affected routes can be re-constructed and a new route will be developed in places which can’t be re-build.
About 350 KM of trekking route is affected by the earthquake in total. Three crores is needed to open these routes, said Director in Chief Gautam.

A GUIDE MUST BE NEEDED FOR TREKKING:-
The affected regions of the earthquake are really dangerous so no trekkers will be permitted to trek alone without a guide. Gutam said, “Alone trekkers will not be permitted there must be group of two or more than two trekkers. One trained trekking guide is compulsory in those group.”

WE CANT MISS NEXT SEASON:-
This September was a complete loss in tourism industry. Up to nest September we must build a safe environment for tourists, said member of TRC Pandey. Pandey also said, “These kind of natural disaster does not take place in Nepal only, it too happens in other countries. What we should learn from them is fast recovery.” He added, “We should learn from them and make our efforts effective.”
After the earthquake number of tourist coming to Nepal is decreased but number of volunteers from different countries is certainly increased. Up to next season, tourist who used to come visit Nepal for fun should be increased. For this governmental and private organization should work joining hands.
Pandey said that PATA is the organization which has helped many countries for the recovery of tourism and PATA has promised to help Nepal to get through difficult condition. A team of expertise will soon arrive in Nepal. He said, “PATA will play effective role in re-development of tourism in Nepal.”

NUMBER OF TOURISTS WILL BE INCREASED:-
When these aftershocks will be over, it is believed that number of tourists visiting Nepal will also increase. Gautam said that, “International airlines had stopped providing its service as there were no more than 30 tourists. This number was increasing up to 70 but the strong aftershock on Tuesday decreased the number again.”
According to data of Airlines if aftershocks will decrease than number of tourists will increase, said Gautam. We should make sure and advertise Nepal does not still mean danger it’s safe and peaceful now for visiting.

EFFORTS BEING MADE TO OPEN HERITAGES:-
Many historical heritages, cultural spots, Durbar squares are affected by earthquake. Some of them are crushed to rubble. Now this places should be reconstructed and should be made safe to visit. Council is trying its best and making every efforts they can for this purpose, said Adhikari. There was meeting held between DOA and related agencies on this topic,
Due to the quake five hundred and twenty one heritages are destroyed. If another strong aftershock comes then many of them will be destroyed completely. For proper re- construction of these heritages and to make sure it’s safe for visiting many works are yet to be done, said Adhikari.

FIVE CRORES FOR VICTIMS:-
Tourism board will help five crores to earthquake victims. This decision was made by the meeting held on Baishak 31st. this amount will be deposited in Prime Minister Relief fund.
Private sectors should also help in this recovering process as much as possible and there is regular discussion going on in this matter from time to time in meeting held by Tourism Board.
In this difficult time of country each and every hands and heads are required for fast recovering of the country and tourism industry. As tourism is one of the main economical source for Nepal it must be recovered as fast as possible.

 Source: http://tourismheadline.com/

TIMS card made mandatory of all trekking areas

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TIMS card made mandatory of all trekking areas

Foreigners will now have to take Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) cards to trek in all trekking areas of the country.

Trekking-in-Nepal

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementation of TIMS signed between Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) makes it mandatory for foreigners to take TIMS cards before travelling to all trekking areas of the country.

Earlier, such card was mandatory for trekking trails in Everest, Langtang and Annapurna regions only. Nandini Lahe Thapa, acting CEO of NTB, and Ramesh Prasad Dhamala, president of TAAN, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions on March 19.

As per the MoU, foreigners interested to walk on trekking trails in Kanchanjunga, Makalu-Barun, Everest, Rolwaling, Panchpokhari-Bhairavkunda, Langtang-Helambu, Ganesh Himal-Ruby Valley, Manaslu, Annapurna Region, Mustang, Dolpa, Rara and Humla must get a TIMS card. Sagar Pandey, general secretary of TAAN, said trekkers will have to take TIMS card for all trekking areas and that they have to pay the amount in Nepali currency.

As per the new provision, group trekkers will be given ‘blue’ TIMS card upon payment of Rs 1,000, while Free Individual Trekkers (FITs) will get ‘green’ TIMS card after paying a fee of Rs 2,000 each. Similarly, mountaineers with climbing permits issued by Department of Tourism (DoT) and Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) will have to take ‘yellow’ TIMS cards by paying fee of Rs 2,000 each. Similarly, group trekkers and FITs from SAARC countries will have to pay fee of Rs 300 and Rs 600, respectively.

Foreigners working with government agencies or diplomatic missions need to acquire TIMS card by paying a fee of Rs 500 each. They, however, are required to submit their detailed itinerary and official request letter from their employers. Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of NMA, hailed the decision to levy TIMS fee on mountaineers. “I’ve learnt that certain percentage of amount collected from TIMS will go on workers’ welfare fund. It will be used for rescue and treatment of workers, among others,” Sherpa added.

As per the MoU, TAAN will levy 100 percent penalty on trekkers if they fail to produce TIMS cards at the check posts. “However, they can swap the permit taken for one area to another area in case of unavoidable circumstances by submitting an application within a week of issuance of cards,” said Pandey.

Of the total revenue collected from TIMS, NTB, TAAN, and joint fund of NTB and TAAN will get 30 percent each, while remaining 10 percent will go to Worker’s Welfare Fund.

“A three-member team under the leadership of director general of Department of Tourism will be formed to operate the fund. A board member of NTB (from private sector) will be the member, while President or representative of TAAN will be the member-secretary,” Pandey said, adding that NTB CEO will be in the committee as invited member.

Aditya Baral, spokesperson of NTB, said the new MoU will come into implementation within a week. “The changes should come into effect once the MoU is signed. But we need few more days for documentation and logistics. Also they (TAAN) need some time to set up check posts on different trails,” Baral added.

Source: Repbulica