Problems as it is, still opportunities galore

By Shree Ram Subedi

KATHMANDU, Oct 23 - A survey result disclosed here today has painted a grim situation of tourism sector, where problems remain unresolved over a period of time.

A survey study "Departing Visitors Survey-2000", conducted by international research agency Org-Marg Nepal, for Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) shows that the problems affecting Nepalese tourism industry have not been fixed thereby keeping tourists’ dissatisfactions unchanged over the last three years.

The survey shows that pollution, local transportation, tourism service facilities and airport service make up the major concerns for tourists. A survey conducted by Org-Marg back in 1997 had recorded similar concerns.

However, not all is depressing. Making public the survey report, Sandeep Ghosh, Country Manger for Org-Marg said, "Though there are some evergreen problems in Nepalese tourism industry, there are also opportunities."

The survey has pointed out friendly and hospitable people, value for money, adventure offers, hotel facilities and wildlife as strengths of Nepalese tourism in comparison to its rivals such as India and South East Asian countries.

Less friendly people, lack of adventure tourism and inferior service facilities in India offer opportunities for Nepal, said the report.

Similarly, vis-a-vis South East Asian countries Nepal has an advantage of more friendly people, more exotic destinations and higher value of Nepalese currency.

However, better service facilities and premier shopping locations in South East Asian countries pose a threat to Nepal as a tourist destination, says the report. Similarly, better summer and winter holiday packages in these countries also put Nepalese tourism industry in difficulty.

The report, however, puts Nepal ahead of Bhutan and Sikkim in all attributes.

According to Org-Marg, the results of the survey are based on structured questionnaires filled by 1,108 departing tourists from 15 different countries during the month of April, 2000.

The survey has also pointed out severe weaknesses in tourism promotion abroad. It says that the majority of the tourists coming to Nepal obtained information regarding the country through "word of mouth" from their friends and relatives.

Though the travel agencies and travel guides have been an important source of information "they are not the motivators", states the survey. Out of the incoming tourists, 65 percent visit Nepal independently while 35 percent come under package tour.

Likewise, over 60 percent of tourists are triers (visiting for the first time). Among the repeat customers, Indian and Japanese are in the forefront.

‘Willingness to repeat visit oneself also influenced the willingness to recommend Nepal for others’, the report says- It is of paramount importance that the visitors coming to Nepal are serviced to the maximum.

Among the independently coming tourists, 64 percent want to revisit the country, while only 47 percent of the visitors under package tour want to repeat their trip. The survey has also made an interesting revelation that Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi visitors stay in relatively expensive hotels while American, European and Australian tourists go for cheaper ones.

Among the tourists visiting Nepal, 35 percent come for sightseeing, 30 percent for business, 19 percent for trekking, 9 percent for holidying and 8 percent for other purposes.

Key product offers of Nepal remain fairly similar, however, shopping seems to have emerged as key attraction among visitors, says the report. The tourists mainly visit Kathmandu, Pokhara, Annapurna region, Nagarkot and Chitwan in Nepal.

It has highlighted the need for promotion campaign to be centered on theme attributes like exotic destination, adventure tourism and wildlife and a land of friendly and hospitable people.

‘High decibel mass media campaign at affordable periodicity is required to emphasize campaign themes and to highlight an interactive internet portal on Nepal tourism for all information, details and also bookings.’

The report has also recommended to shortlist countries of core consumer base and to appoint advertising agencies of international repute to develop campaign on listed themes.

The survey has come at a time when tourist arrival via air is witnessing a whooping 13 percent decline for the first three quarters of this year inviting a strong demand from tourism entrepreneurs to review the marketing strategy.

Speaking at report launching ceremony, Pradeep Raj Pandey, Chief Executive Officer of NTB expressed hope that scientific study as such would help to shape future marketing strategy. He also assured that the study would be carried out on regular basis.

PM pledges 5 litres subsidized kerosene

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 23 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has assured to increase the quota of subsidized kerosene from 3 to 5 litres per family per month.

The assurance was made to a delegation of Nepal Consumer Forum (NCF) today, which met the Prime Minister today and handed over a memorandum demanding complete and immediate roll back of recent petro hike decision of the government.

According to Maharjan, the Prime Minister also informed that the government is closely working with planners, experts and concerned government institutions to workout various possible alternatives to minimize the economic burden caused by the hike in the prices of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, in response to a call by NCF to boycott sale of petroleum products, most of the private petroleum-refueling stations in the valley were closed creating long queue of vehicles in some government and semi government owned petro stations, which remained open today.

"All private petro stations remained closed today to show the solidarity to various agitation programs being launched by NCF protesting the recent petro-price hike announcement," Maharjan claimed.

Tourism entrepreneurs protest

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 23 - Tourism related associations today took out a silent rally with about 150 tourism vehicles through all the major streets of the capital protesting against wrong tourism policy and negligent attitude of HMG towards the tourism industry, states a press release issued here today.

All the vehicles in the rally carried black banners with various slogans.

The rally was jointly organized by Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA), Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), PATA-Nepal Chapter, Nepal Freight Forwarders’ Association (NEFFA), Himalaya Rescue Association (HRA), Nepal Association of Rafting Agents (NARA), Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), Nepal Entrepreneurs Association of Tourism (NEAT), Restaurant and Bar Association of Nepal (REBAN), Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Tourist Guide Association of Nepal (TURGAN), according to the release.

At the end of the rally, Bhola Bikram Thapa, President of NATA thanked all participants for the solidarity shown for the cause of tourism and expressed apology on behalf of all tourism related associations for the inconvenience caused inadvertently to other vehicles playing on the road during the rally.

Considering that tourism industry should be protected from deterioration and should be further promoted since it effects the complete economy of the country, active cooperation towards consolidation of tourism industry is expected from general mass belonging to various aspects of national life, the release concludes.