Tourist arrivals dip by 34 pc

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 2 - Global downturn in tourism industry after the September 11 attack in the United States has severely affected Nepalese tourism industry, resulting a steep decline in tourist inflow in October.

According to statistics provided by Department of Immigration and compiled by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the total tourist arrivals in October declined by 34 per cent as compared to corresponding period last year. Of the total decline, third country tourist arrival declined by over 30 per cent while such decline for the Indian tourist was over 50 per cent.

Though there was a decline in the total tourist arrival in this month as compared to last year, the total tourist inflow has increased by over 30 per cent when compared to similar data of previous month. According to the available statistics, tourist arrival by air in October was 33,037 while the figure was 25,360 in last month and 49,871 in the same period last year.

The corresponding decline in tourist arrivals for October is the highest after a decline of 56 per cent in June following the Royal carnage.

According to the statistics, Belgium is the only country that has shown an increment of 18 per cent in its tourist arrival this month.

Tek Bahadur Dangi, Director at the NTB says the major reason behind the decline in the tourist arrival is the devastating terrorist attack in the United States. "We were expecting the tourism industry to get revived in September and October but the attack has put cold water over the expectations," he said.

The total tourist arrivals during first ten months of the current year has shown relatively lower decline of 14 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year falling from 299,829 tourists to 258,605 this year. In spite of a 29 per cent fall in the Indian tourist arrivals, the third country tourist arrival declined by 8 per cent in the first ten-month.

In country wise tourist inflow, the share of Indian tourists, that used to make one third of total tourists, has declined to 21 per cent this month. The tourists from the United States of America albeit a terrorist attack, is in the second position with 9.72 per cent tourists.

NTB has stated that the aftermath of terrorist attacks in US and the retaliatory action by the US on Afghanistan as well as the ensuing economic downturn in the world economy continue to affect every part of the world including the economic and tourism scenario of Nepal.

Occupational hazards on the rise

By Vijaya Babu Khatri

KATHMANDU, Nov 2 - Industrial accidents are rising every year due mainly to a lack of implementation of occupational health and safety measures though both employers and employees are not averse towards implementing it.

The cases of industrial accidents are rising annually. According to statistics provided by the Department of Labour, altogether 42 cases of such accident was recorded in fiscal year 1998/99 in which 7 persons were killed and the number rose to 55 in fiscal year 1999/2000 in which 15 people were killed.

However, both the employers and employees concede that the actual figure of industrial accidents and casualties could be much higher than the official data.

Labour Act, 2048 has stipulated that work place should be clean, well-ventilated, with ample light and not slippery. Besides, the Act has specified the degree of noise and use of chemicals for the safety of workers, life insurance, accidental insurance and first aid treatment under the occupational health and safety of employees.

But such safety measures are not in place in industrial enterprises in Nepal, except only in some multinational companies and a selected few big national companies. Such provisions are minimum basic requirements in the developed countries.

Suraj Baidya, President of Employers Council, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), also admits that necessary safety measures are not in place despite some progress on public awareness about public health and safety.

A survey commissioned by the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Union (GEFONT) also paints gloomy picture of occupational safety and health. The survey collected data from 750 industrial enterprises throughout the Kingdom.

Bishnu Rimal, general secretary of GEFONT says that most of the industrial enterprises do not have life insurance, accidental insurance, compensation, medical allowance, health check-up and proper work place.

"Except for multinational companies and a few big national companies, there has been no improvement in working environment in industrial enterprises of the nation," Rimal says.

According to the survey, 85 per cent of industrial enterprises do not have life insurance, 76 per cent do not have accidental insurance and 60 per cent do not have compensation provision in case of sustaining injuries during office hours.

Similarly, more than 50 per cent industrial enterprises do not have medical allowance, 75 per cent do not have first aid treatment facilities and 83 per cent industries lack regular health check-up facilities for the employees.

Rimal states that though big entrepreneurs principally agree on introducing occupational safety and health, the implementation has always remained a failure. Accepting the complaints, Suraj Baidya said that FNCCI is going to introduce awareness building programme in small and medium industries which are not following the norms of industrial safety.

A tripartite committee (including the government, employers and employees) formed to formulate occupational health and safety strategies has also remained inactive.

The only good thing is that some of the industrial enterprises are following the international standard of Occupational health and safety (OHS) and some are making efforts to provide the standard.

However, Yuba Raj Sharma, Chief of Commission for Occupational Safety and Health, says that the commission has been successful in minimizing hazards that results from lack of occupational health and safety through creating awareness among the employers and employees.

He added that the commission for the past four years has been raising awareness among the employers and employees and it has contributed to productivity enhancement.

FNCCI Employers Council is drafting a policy on occupational safety and health, with a view to improve working conditions and thereby enhancing productivity.

‘Chinese agro-tools can enhance productivity’

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KATHMANDU, Nov 2 – Agriculturists and concerned engineers have stressed that the Chinese hand tractors and other modern agricultural equipment can play a revolutionary role in the development of the agriculture sector in Nepal.

Speaking at a press conference organised here Thursday by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Rice Wheat Consortium, experts underlined that given the difficult terran of the Nepal, small and economical Chinese tractors are more appropriate to the Nepalese farmers than the big one.

Addressing the program, Dr Peter Hobbs, Regional Representative of CIMMTY said that mechanization of the agricultural sector without degrading natural resources is the only way to boost the agricultural production to feed the growing population. He also informed that CIMMTY has been working with the Chinese agro-tools manufacturers to enhance the domestic agricultural productions.

He stressed that use of comparatively cheap and efficient Chinese hand tractors should be encouraged to enhance the much-needed commercialization of the Nepalese agriculture.

Speaking on the occasion, Liu Min, Deputy Director-General at Department of Agricultural Mechanization of China and leader of the seven-member Chinese delegation of engineers and managers, which is currently in Nepal on the invitation of CIMMYT, highlighted the significance of hand tractors in Nepal.

He also said that the main purpose of the visit to Nepal is to investigate the existing Nepalese agro-tools market and to exchange ideas with the Nepalese experts on the possible use of Chinese agro-tools. "China has a long experience on using various machines in the agriculture and added that such experience can be exchanged with the Nepalese experts," Liu said.

In the program it was also informed that there are altogether 1,500 agro-tools factories across China producing more than 4,000 varieties of agro-tools ranging from small to big machines. The Chinese delegation, which is in the South Asian tour, is scheduled to participate in the various programs and will make field visits to various parts of the country.

Dispute continues at Bhrikuti Paper Mills

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CHITWAN, Nov 2 – The dispute between the management and workers that caused the closure of entire production of the Bhrikuti Pulp and Paper Mills, the largest paper factory of the country has not been resolved yet.

The factory, which has been producing around 50 per cent of national paper demand, has been closed since last Wednesday after the management rejected the demand of labourers to hike the salary citing the poor financial condition of the factory.

As the deadlock continues, both the labourers and the management are continue stuck in the previous position. Labours have been demanding that the salary and other privileges should be given at par with the government enterprises. "Salary hike is our main demand and we are not ready to make any compromise on it," said Keshab Duwadi, coordinator of joint action committee of the labourers.

But K P Lamichhane, General Manager of the factory said that the demand of the labourers is against the Labour Act. However, he added that the management is ready to consider other demands except the demand related with hike in salary.

The situation inside the factory worsened after the agitating labours barred the management to sale the stock papers due to which a situation of acute shortage of paper in the local market has emerged. "The closure of the factory would directly hit the local copy and book industry including some newspapers."

According to Lamichhane, more than 70 per cent of the total production of the factory has been absorbed in the local market while rest 30 percent has been exported. He also informed that Japan and India are the main export market for Nepalese pulp and paper respectively.